2014-2015 Innovations Magazine

i nnovations • 24 glObAl TRAvEl In June, Andra Hanlon, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., CPNP, associate dean for graduate programs, presented a peer-reviewed paper on the out- look for doctoral nursing education at the Seventh International Scientific Conference on Nursing and Health Care Research held in Lake Bled, Slovenia, that was hosted by the Faculty of Health Care Jesenice (FHCJ). Dr. Hanlon posed the question of whether a hy- brid degree, incorporating the research as- pects of the Ph.D. and the practice aspects of leadership, technology, epidemiology, infor- matics, health care economics, policy, and or- ganizational behavior of the D.N.P., might be more universally applicable in preparing nurses to meet future health care challenges. Dr. Hanlon also moderated a panel discus- sion on global issues in nursing education, where it was discovered that there are no nursing Ph.D. programs in the European Union. Nurses who hold doctorates in Europe have, however, received Ph.D.s in other disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, and kinesthesiology. In meetings with the dean of the FHCJ, Brigita Savič, Ph.D., Dr. Hanlon discussed mutually beneficial possibilities for NSU’s Col- lege of Nursing and the FHCJ that could en- hance NSU’s degree offerings to meet global needs for doctoral-prepared nurses. Dr. Savič wants her nursing faculty members to hold Ph.D.s in the discipline of nursing; therefore, it is anticipated that over the next year, Dr. Savič and Dr. Hanlon will be working together to develop such a curriculum. The desire for a nursing doctorate meeting global standards of rigor in both research and practice was echoed by other conferees representing doctoral nursing education in places such as Croatia, Italy, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, as part of the FHCJ’s Interna- tional Day event, Dr. Hanlon toured the FHCJ facility at Jesenice, Slovenia, and participated in roundtable discussions on the status of nursing and health care issues in several countries. Specifically, she presented a U.S. perspective on providing health care that fo- cused on the issues being studied and the in- novative solutions being developed and evaluated by NSU D.N.P. students. Commenting on the experience, Dr. Hanlon said she received an extremely warm wel- come from everyone at the FHCJ and en- joyed the interaction with all the international representatives. “It was exciting to meet indi- viduals outside the United States who are dedicated and passionate about moving the discipline of nursing forward to improve global health,” she said. Dr. Andra Hanlon Plays Active Role at Conference on Nursing and Health Care Research in Slovenia Dr. Hanlon (pictured first from le ) with other conference par cipants.