title: Collaborating across the pond: the diffusion of virtual communities for nursing education.
abstract: Over the past decade, there have been significant changes in nursing education, particularly in teaching practice. This change has fueled interest in developing new and innovative approaches to teaching and curriculum. This article describes the shared experiences of two nurse educators on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean who have spent the last 4 years immersed in the process of developing and diffusing virtual communities for nursing education. Diffusion of innovations theory is used as a framework for this narrative. Nurse educators should have an awareness of the phases, steps, and challenges that can be expected during the process of innovation diffusion, including implications for education practice.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico College of Nursing, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001, USA. jgiddens@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Jean Foret
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Giddens
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012381:Role Playing; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface