
The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing recently hosted a delegation of international health care professionals from the Scottish Quality and Safety Fellowship based in Scotland, facilitated by Texas Global, for an impactful exchange focused on global health care collaboration.
Texas Nursing faculty members Li-Chen Lin, PhD, RN, CNRN, clinical assistant professor; Patty Hamilton-Solum, PhD, RN, IBCLC, clinical assistant professor; Jennifer Williams, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CEN, clinical instructor; and Kelly Pretorius, PhD, MSN, MPH, RN, clinical assistant professor, and delegates shared perspectives on safety issues within key health care specialties, including pediatrics, elder care, obstetrics and elective care, with a mutual goal of improving patient outcomes across borders. They also discussed how funding limitations impact access to care in the U.S. and Scotland. Additionally, there was a dynamic conversation about the shortages of health care workers and strategies to overcome them.
“They were eager to share their perspectives and hear from us, such as our health interprofessional education and simulations,” Lin said. “We discussed the shared challenges in both countries, such as the retention of the new generation of nurses and aging populations. It was great to hear their approach to caring for patients through the hospital-at-home program with telemedicine.”
Delegates toured the School of Nursing’s teaching labs equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge simulation tools that are vital to the School’s curriculum. The teaching lab tour highlighted the hands-on, innovative learning environment that supports students in developing essential clinical skills.
“Our ability to collaborate with partners across the globe is a needed and welcome event,” Williams said. “The opportunity on both sides to validate best practices and tackle shared issues in patient care, staffing shortages and research was well-received. Global networking to build collegial relationships greatly benefits UT Austin and the communities we serve.”
As part of its mission to build meaningful global partnerships, the School of Nursing remains focused on strengthening international collaborations that contribute to advancing health care standards, benefiting both faculty and students across the globe.