Christina Bohn and Dr. Lynn Clark Callister
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The purpose of this project was to (1) disseminate evidence about global initiatives and individual nurses who are making a difference in the health of women and children worldwide, and (2) identify how nurses can become involved in global efforts. This evidence is published in MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing and was presented at the Brigham Young University College of Nursing annual research conference on October 25, 2010.
The content of this column is guided by two important documents: The World Health Organization (WHO) global health priorities and the 2015 United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These goals include to: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality; combat HIV/AIDs and other infectious diseases; environmental sustainability; and develop global partnerships for development. In reference to the MDGs, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, “Time is short. We must seize this historic moment to act responsibly and decisively for the common good” (UN, 2008).
The faculty mentor and student mentee worked together to generate columns published in the journal. The column includes stories of innovative global initiatives and individual maternal/pediatric nurses who are making an importance difference. 2010 global health and nursing columns include: “Disaster relief in Asia: Making the invisible visible;” “Going from being a child to an adult in 30 seconds: Diabetes in children globally;” “A commentary on courageous women: More than half the sky;” “The International Year of the Nurse;” and “Global infertility: Are we caring yet?”
Information is also included on helpful websites that provide more information, and how nurses can become involved in global efforts in health promotion and disease prevention in women and children.
MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing is a peer-reviewed nursing journal publishing clinical relevant practice and research manuscripts aimed at assisting nurses toward evidence based practice. The global health and nursing column is being widely disseminated to nurse clinicians. This column promotes global health initiatives as well as empowering nurses to become involved in global efforts, which will broaden the perspectives of nurses and promote global wellness.
According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, “the nurse has a responsibility to be aware not only of specific health needs of individual patients but also of broader health concerns such as world hunger, environmental pollution, lack of access to health care, violation of human rights, and inequitable distribution of nursing and health care resources” (ANA, 2001, p. 23). This column contributes to fulfilling this ethical obligation.
Funding: Brigham Young University Office of Research and Creative Activities
References
- American Nurses Association. (2001). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Silver Spring, MD: ANA.
- United Nations. (2009). UN to review progress on the millennium development goals at high-level meeting in september 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2009, from http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/sept_2010_more.shtml