A community-oriented primary care nursing model in an international setting that emphasizes partnerships.
OBJECTIVE
To present an interdisciplinary, community-oriented primary care nursing model that effectively draws upon the strengths of advanced practice nurses (APNs), both nurse practitioners and community health nurses.


METHODS
Articles in professional nursing journals, international data sources, and the clinical experiences of the authors, both domestic and international.


CONCLUSIONS
The model, developed domestically, was utilized successfully by APNs internationally in a medical mission endeavor in rural Haiti. Many partners, domestic and Haitian, worked as an interdisciplinary team to deliver quality health care to an impoverished population. Graduate nursing students participated in the program, which offered opportunities and challenges for both novice and expert nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurse practitioners, community health nurses, and nursing faculty members can use this model to enhance their professional practice. They can learn that clients can be optimally cared for whether the community served is domestic or international. Nursing faculty can teach graduate nursing students about the value of partnerships and collaboration.
Sloand
Elizabeth
E
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. bsloand@son.jhmi.edu
Groves
Sara
S
D003153:Community Health Services; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D016294:Models, Nursing; D011321:Primary Nursing