Dana Friend, a clinical assistant professor with the WVU School of Nursing, has been nominated for the Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
Friend was nominated for her work, “Global Endeavors Initiative at West Virginia University School of Nursing,” which provides international perspectives, cross-cultural communication and enhanced understanding of global healthcare settings for faculty and students.
Study abroad and service-learning opportunities are available in London, Brazil, Honduras, Vietnam, and Japan. These experiences can vary in length from week-long study abroad opportunities to month-long service-learning experiences.
Additionally, in a virtual cross-cultural exchange with Hamamatsu nursing school in Japan, students gain an understanding of similarities and differences in Japanese and U.S. nursing care in childbirth and cultural practices.
“These experiences lend themselves to a better understanding of nursing and healthcare systems across the globe and facilitate knowledge exchange to enhance cultural understandings for faculty and students,” said Dr. Tara Hulsey, Dean and E. Jane Martin Endowed Professor. “The beneficial impacts of learning from peers and facilitating diversity in education and research are essential in an increasingly global world.”
The AACN Membership Committee will forward recommendations to the Board of Directors for a vote in July. Award winners will be invited to the Academic Nursing Leadership Conference in October.
-WVU-
CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu
