Building the capacity of nurses, throughout the world, to lead in
healthcare delivery is the principal aim of the Global Education
Institute (GEDI).
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Sharon Weinstein (left) and Ann Marie Brooks, at a book signing to launch their publication: Nurses Without Borders: Values, Wisdom, Success Markers.
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Established five years ago, GEDI leaders began their work began within The American International Health Alliance (AIHA), an organization established by a consortium of major healthcare provider associations and professional medical education organizations to help the nations of the former Soviet Union build much-needed healthcare systems.
Funded through a series of cooperative agreements with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the first efforts involved establishing effective working partnerships between US hospitals and counterparts in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
The hospital partnership program tackled issues, such as, infection control, nursing, women’s health, neonatal resuscitation, and emergency medicine, as well as hospital finance and administration.
Working within the health alliance, GEDI established a special programme to focus on the empowerment of nurses in the partner countries. This was initiated by the dynamic President of GEDI, Sharon Weinstein, with keen support from the board of the institute.
Sharon Weinstein, MS, RN, CRNI, FAAN, was aptly suited to lead the international initiative. She specializes in workforce-related issues impacting healthcare delivery, globalization, nurse-physician collaboration, safety and wellness.
Former Executive Director of The Premier Foundation, Weinstein directed Premier's international efforts for 9 years in over 24 countries. Since 1980, she has led a series of exchange programs to the People's Republic of China, Russia, Hungary, Germany, France, Austria, Japan and Egypt.
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Nurses are taking the lead in healthcare
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Over 500 nurses from NIS and CEE countries have participated in GEDI programs
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GEDI is particularly active in independent states of the former Soviet Union (NIS). These include: Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. Other focal areas include Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
The dissolution of the USSR disrupted the links between nursing institutions in the region. Through meetings, symposia and workshops, GEDI has worked hard to enable the nursing institutions to reconnect and work together again. It has organised numerous student and faculty exchanges.
As a result, the nursing profession in the NIS and CEE countries has prospered.
There is concrete evidence:
• Over 500 talented nurses have participated in GEDI's international programs, ranging from clinical practice to leadership. Of these, 70 have been inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.
• Nurses are taking the lead in establishing effective communication networks and channels.
• The introduction of clinical practice guidelines, nursing standards, and policies and procedures has seen major changes in clinical practice in hospitals.
• Training in organizational development and strategy formulation has led to policy changes beneficial to the nursing profession.
• Nursing is no longer considered a middle-level health job. Nurses are proud of their profession and view it as an important career. They regard themselves as role models, coaches, and mentors.
According to Elena Frolova, MD, PhD, from St. Petersburg, Russia, who is a physician, interpreter and facilitator, working with The American International Health Alliance (AIHA) programs: “The impact of GEDI's leadership development model over the past decade is impressive.”
Based on the experience in NIS and CEE countries, GEDI has expanded its work to other countries, particularly, China, Taiwan, and Japan.
GEDI has created working partnerships with leading nursing organizations, such as the International Council of Nurses, the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and Sigma Theta Tau International, to foster excellence, scholarship and leadership in nursing to improve healthcare worldwide.
For information on GEDI programs, visit: www.gedinfp.com
GEDI’s premier book, Nursing Without Borders…values, wisdom, success markers – may be ordered through: http://www.nursingknowledge.org/Portal/main.aspx?PageID=36&SKU=76726
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