International consultation by United States nurses: a descriptive study

Since the influence of United States Nursing; is far-reaching both geographically and ideologically, United States nurses are frequently asked to serve as consultants to other countries. This was an exploratory/descriptive study of United States nurses who have engaged in international consultation during the past 7 years. Two sets of data were used in the study. The first set consisted of the responses to a 12-page questionnaire which was completed by 93 informants, while the second set of data provided the content analysis of 25 interviews. Included in the data analysis were a demographic profile of the consultants, including the manner in which they had prepared for their international experience; reasons for engaging in international consultation; the nature of advice given in the areas of clinical practice, education, research, administration, attitudes and beliefs about what consultants can learn from and contribute to other countries; ways of adapting advice to make it culturally relevant and effective in its context; and problems encountered while consulting including discrepancies between consultant and client expectations and moral/ethical dilemmas. Identified from the data were conceptual components which could be used in developing a model program to prepare nurses for international consultation. Although specialization for international consultation was proposed at the master's level, suggestions were made for integration of concepts related to international health from the baccalaureate through the doctoral levels of education.