Ethical Considerations in Short Term Global Health Experiences

Academically sponsored, short-term experiences in global health care (STEGH) have increased in popularity and accessibility among students originating from high-income countries (HIC) and enrolled in medical and health care programs. The populations served have socioeconomic, cultural, and/or geographic barriers to healthcare. Establishment of goals, clarity of expectations, and ethical awareness of services being provided are essential to achieve mutually agreeable outcomes for all involved. The project was designed to increase the knowledge of undergraduate nursing students scheduled to embark on a short term experience in global health. Module development and dissemination of evidence regarding the ethics of care and cultural humility was followed by a two-fold interactive, evaluation of undergraduate nursing students and on-site stakeholders. The evaluation was incorporated into a routine debriefing conducted prior to departure from the STEGH location. Survey findings indicated that undergraduate nursing students perceived personal growth, the acquisition of new knowledge, and clinical relevance to the population served