title: Responding to the call for globalization in nursing education: the implementation of the transatlantic double-degree program.
abstract: Increased demand for nurses worldwide has highlighted the need for a flexible nursing workforce eligible for licensure in multiple countries. Nursing's curricular innovation mirrors the call for reform within higher education including globalization of curricula (E. J. S. Hovenga, 2004; D. Nayyar, 2008; B. J. G. Wood, S. M. Tapsall, & G. N. Soutar, 2005), increased opportunities for student mobility exchanges, dialogue between different academic traditions, and mutual understanding and transparency between universities (J. González & R. Wagenaar, 2005). The European Union (EU) and United States have combined efforts to achieve these objectives by creating the Atlantis program in 2007 (U.S. Department of Education, 2011). This article describes experiences of four nursing programs participating in an Atlantis project to develop a double-degree baccalaureate program for undergraduate nursing students. Early learnings include increasing awareness and appreciation of essential curricular and performance competencies of the baccalaureate-prepared professional nurse. Challenges include language competency; variations in curriculum, cultural norms, student expectations, and learning assessment; and philosophical differences regarding first-level professional nurse preparation as specialist versus generalist. The Transatlantic Double Degree program has successfully implemented the double-degree program. Members have gained valuable insights into key issues surrounding the creation of a more uniform, yet flexible, educational standard between our countries.
authors.affiliation: Special Assistant to the President and Professor, former Dean, School of Nursing, Washburn University, Topeka, KS.. Electronic address: cynthia.hornberger@washburn.edu.
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hornberger
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, TADD-EU Coordinator, Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences., Mikkeli, Finland.
authors.forename: Sirkka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erämaa
authors.affiliation: Head of Nursing Department, Department of Nursing, University of Szeged, Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Studies, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Kornélia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Helembai
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer (Retired), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McCartan
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, former Head of Department, Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences, Mikkeli, Finland.
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turtiainen
mesh_terms: D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007391:International Cooperation
keywords: Curriculum; Globalization; Nursing education