Global Health Competencies for Undergraduate Nursing Students in Korea

Lee, Hyeonkyeong; Kim, Hee Soon; Cho, Eunhee; Kim, Sanghee; Kim, Junghee

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify essential global health competencies for undergraduate nursing students in Korea.
METHODS
This study used a mixed methods design including an online survey with a convenient sample of 223 nursing educators, followed by an expert discussion with four nursing educators with expertise in global health. The global health competency was measured using the Global Health Competencies for Nurses in the America, which consists of 30 competencies in 6 domains. Each competency was measured by a 4-point Likert Scale, with at least 80% of 3 or 4 point scores indicating consensus that competency was considered essential for undergraduate nursing students.
RESULTS
Nursing educators most strongly agreed the competencies of the Social and Environmental Determinants of Health domain as essential global health competencies for nursing students. A total of 21 items in 5 out of 6 competency domains were initially identified with at least 80% agreement. Finally, the experts decided on 24 global health competencies through the revision and integration of several competencies.
CONCLUSION
The findings indicate that nursing educators perceived that nursing students need to be prepared for responding to emerging global health needs. The proposed list of global health competencies can provide guidance to develop a framework for integrating global health into undergraduate nursing curriculums.