Ann Arbor Times

The University of Michigan School of Nursing hosted nursing and midwifery leaders from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago for simulation training this week. The event is part of a continuing effort to improve health care education and leadership across the Caribbean.

The “Train the Trainer” program was developed by the school’s Office of Global Affairs in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization. This initiative is part of U-M’s PAHO/WHO Collaborative Center, which has supported nursing education in the Caribbean for 27 years.

During the July 27-Aug. 1 session, participants received practical instruction in clinical simulation skills, critical thinking, communication, and competency assessment. The program was delivered by a team that included faculty members, graduate students, and simulation lab technicians.

By the end of the program, all six participants are expected to have gained new skills they can use to train other educators and expand access to high-quality simulation-based nursing education throughout the Caribbean.

“There are plans to enhance simulation in teaching, so I want to be prepared to go back and teach others,” said Cynthia Pitter, senior lecturer and head of the School of Nursing at the University of the West Indies Mona in Jamaica.

“Simulation is the way forward. We want to make sure that our students are placed in a secure environment and can practice before they get to the bedside with real patients,” said Natalie Watson, instructor at Barbados Community College.

Faculty members highlighted how these collaborations could impact not only Caribbean health care but also global teaching practices.

“One of my hopes is that we all take to heart and take home how—with skillful faculty—it is not the technology that matters quite as much as how we are using the technology,” said Megan Eagle, U-M clinical assistant professor of nursing

“There is a lot we can do with less technology than we think, as long as we use it carefully and skillfully.”

This training supports U-M’s goal to promote global leadership in nursing by encouraging knowledge exchange and professional growth. These efforts align with U-M’s broader mission as a national leader in global education through ongoing international partnerships focused on supporting low- and middle-income regions.

Jeanne-Marie Stacciarini, associate dean for global affairs and co-director of U-M's PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center at its School of Nursing, noted that these initiatives reflect U-M's commitment to cultivating nursing leadership and building educational capacity worldwide.

Following this summer’s Global Simulation Training for Caribbean Nursing Leaders, another group from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Mexico will participate in a Latin American Nurse Practitioner Development Program from Aug. 11-15. This weeklong event will give attendees exposure to nurse practitioner education practices in the United States—an important opportunity as several Latin American countries consider adopting this role within their own health systems.