INTERNATIONAL NURSING LEADERSHIP RELATED TO THE DRUGS PHENOMENON: A CASE STUDY OF THE PARTNERSHIP EXPERIENCE BETWEEN THE INTER-AMERICAN DRUG ABUSE CONTROL COMMISSION (CICAD) AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA-FACULTY OF NURSING 1

In this article, the authors discuss the value of international health in advancing the nursing profession through the development of strong leadership in the area of drug demand reduction. Paradigms for nursing leadership are briefly reviewed and linked to the development of the "International Nursing Leadership Institutes" organized by the Inter-American Commission for the Control of Drug Abuse (CICAD). The "International Nursing Leadership Institutes" have facilitated the implementation of Phase III of the CICAD Schools of Nursing Project: a) planning and implementing the first "International Research Capacity-Building Program for Nurses to Study the Drug Phenomenon in Latin America", b) development of Regional and National Strategic Plans for Nursing Professionals in the Area of Demand Reduction in Latin America, and c) preparation of a document that provides guidelines on how to include drug content into undergraduate and graduate nursing curricula. The article also brings reflections directly from several of the participants in the first International Research Capacity-Building Program for Nurses to Study the Drug Phenomenon in the Americas, offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. These reflections demonstrate the multiplicity of ways in which this capacity-building program has made it easier for these members of Latin American Schools of Nursing to show leadership in the area of drug demand reduction.


LIDERAZGO INTERNACIONAL EN ENFERMERÍA RELACIONADA AL FENÓMENO DE LAS DROGAS: UN ESTUDIO DE CASO DE LA EXPERIENCIA DE COLABORACIÓN ENTRE LA COMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA PARA EL CONTROL DEL ABUSO DE LAS DROGAS (CICAD)Y LA UNIVERSIDAD DE ALBERTA-FACULTAD DE ENFERMERÍA
En este artículo, los autores debaten el valor de la salud internacional para el avance de la profesión de enfermería a través del desarrollo de un sólido liderazgo en el área de reducción de la demanda de drogas.Los paradigmas de liderazgo de enfermería son brevemente revisados y tiene apoyado el desarrollo de la serie de "Institutos Internacionales de Liderazgo de Enfermería", organizados por la Comisión Interamericana para el Control del Abuso de Drogas (CICAD).Los "Institutos Internacionales de Liderazgo de Enfermería" han servido como facilitadores de la implementación de la Fase III del Proyecto de la CICAD de las Escuelas de Enfermería: a) planeamiento e implementación del primer "Programa Internacional de Capacitación de Enfermeras(os) para Estudiar el Fenómeno de las Drogas en América Latina", b) desarrollo de los Planes Estratégicos Regionales y Nacionales para la Profesión de Enfermería en el Área de la Reducción de la Demanda de Drogas y c) preparación de un documento directriz de como incluir el contenido de drogas en los currículos de pregrado y postgrado de enfermería.El articulo presenta también las consideraciones de los diversos participantes del primer Programa Internacional de Capacitación para Enfermeras(os), realizado en colaboración con la Facultad de Enfermería de la Universidad de Alberta, Edmonton, Canadá.Estas consideraciones demuestran la multiplicidad de maneras que el programa de capacitación ha presentado a los miembros de las Escuelas de Enfermería de América Latina para avanzar el liderazgo en el área de Reducción de la demanda de drogas.

INTRODUCTION
With the beginning of the 21st Century, it is already evident that the nursing profession will face new challenges.Among the macro determinants and conditioning factors influencing nursing profession, the exercise of leadership, and the conduct of research within the profession are also the political and economic stability of the countries; international and national security; health and environmental conditions; and scientific and technological advances.
These new realities will influence the direction the nursing profession will take to work together to solve problems using scientific evidence, and to demonstrate new models of leadership to deal with the consequences of the globalization process, as well as with issues related to the drug phenomenon, violence, increase in refugees, degradation of the environment, health care reform, information and technology, terrorism and bio-terrorism acts; the aging of our populations, new demands in the job market, and new models of partnerships (1)(2)(3) .
The development of new models of leadership based not only on individual characteristics, but also on the ability to use scientific and technological evidence for the solution of problems and conflicts, requires a combination of efforts from individuals and what the nursing profession offers collectively as resources, strategies and environment for development (4) .
The advancement of the nursing profession in Latin America requires the development of international and national efforts and partnerships.A good example of such effort is the role of the Inter-American Drug Control Commission (CICAD) in the advancement of nursing education, practice (extension activities) and research in the field of demand reduction in Latin America.Educating nurses to work in the field of demand reduction requires a combination of international and national commitment and efforts with continued financial support to see results over the short, medium, and long term.

NEW LEADERSHIP PARADIGMS AND MODELS
The advancement of globalization in the world has opened frontiers for new leadership paradigms and models.These need to meet the job market demands and, at the same time, offer theoretical and operational foundations for problem solving based on scientific evidence.Globalization is a dynamic process involving the flow of goods, capital, people, and ideas and the interconnection of activities in different sectors of society (5)(6) .
The development process involves four fundamental concepts: power, interest, knowledge and leadership for policy design and decision-making.The interrelationship among these four concepts makes the process of development dynamic and progressive (7) .The new leadership paradigms and models that will advance the nursing profession in the XXIst century need to take these elements into consideration to create a cadre of new nursing leaders that will make education, practice, and research dynamic, integrative, and progressive processes to respond to the challenges of a global world.The leader in this paradigm becomes a transformational leader (8) .
According to Selanders (9) , Florence Nightingale's thoughts, values and activities provide elements of a trans-visionary leadership paradigm.
The leader in this paradigm uses expert knowledge, position, and opportunity as a power base for decision making and for creating permanent social change.
Lucey (10) introduces the concept of "adventure" as part of a new paradigm, because of the complex environment we live in today.She emphasizes that, when nurses see leadership as an adventure, they will develop "adventure skills", such as assessment skills, interpersonal communication skills, and organizational skills.A leader who sees leadership as an adventure is dedicated to lifelong learning.
Lemire (11) emphasizes the importance of leadership development as part of nursing education responsibilities.She suggests that an innovative leadership education model is an important element for guiding the development of a progressive leadership curriculum that will contribute to the acquisition of new leadership behaviors within the profession.She proposes a "Leadership Educational Model" that is based on integration, progression and evolving processes.Within this model, a leader would become a visionary, as well as an expert, an achiever, a critical thinker, a communicator and a mentor.
Hemphill (12) indicates that there is an urgent need to integrate education, practice and research to meet the new demands of society and achieve a new profile of leadership.She addresses the need to substitute the old paradigm of structural isolation and cultural individualization with one that gives emphasis to collaboration, commitment and partnership.This model opens possibilities for the creation of a transformational leader.
Pesut (13) provides a vision for leadership based on the process of renewal.It involves aspects related to self, service, scholarship of reflective practice, science, society, and spirit, which all allow for more creative, thoughtful and inspiring leaders.
According to some Latin American authors, the new leadership paradigm and models should address social transformation, based on the use of science and technology to solve problems and decision making.The leader becomes an "agent of transformation" within the context s(he) is part of (14)   .
Taking As important as the creation of a new leadership model is the provision for leadership succession, an idea that originated in the business world.According to Conger and Fulmer (15) , it is important to create a succession management system that will build a steady, reliable pipeline of leadership talents.For them, succession planning and leadership development involves getting the right skills in the right place.
In some ways, with the development of    (iv) preparation and presentation to CICAD of a publishable manuscript (in their own language) about the research findings for submission to a peer reviewed journal.The publications involving comparative results of the studies between groups will be done in a follow-up phase of the program, and they will be published in English or another language.

Personal experience:
The opportunity to work with nurses from other countries during a long period gave me a wider vision of the Latin American situation, the common problems and the possible solutions to them by taking as an example the developed countries' approach, to have also a clear vision of the drug problem from the perspective of each one of them in its own reality and culture.Furthermore, I think that, eventually, in the near future, we will be able to interact in a better way day by day.

Program experience:
It is the first program of which I can give an accurate testimony because it included the analysis of problems and the discussion of opinions from different realities, cultures and experiences.In addition, investigations were made by those who participated in their own reality.In this way, we obtained a contribution to our own society and to our jobs.

Research Experience:
We carried out an investigation throughout the program which enhanced our research abilities.
To have an idea in mind and to develop it during 365 days of the year and to see the progress day by day, to discuss it with the advisor or other participants, to solve problems together -all that helped to improve all of the abilities that scientific research requires and which the researcher herself should develop.Canadian multiculturalism is the central issue that makes this country so friendly and rich.

Program Experience:
The methodological approaches gave us the tools to develop our research, using the most adequate method to allow for the development of an accurate and reliable study.There were some gaps in the theoretical component of the Program, specifically about Health Promotion and Health Education concepts and applications.

Research Experience:
So far, the research development has showed me that drug use and abuse is an issue that must be examined in several different ways and that we, as nurse-researchers, must be aware of the importance of this issue, keeping a political, social, biological and psychological critical view.Latin American countries must, therefore, invest in this kind of capacity-building program.
Personal and Professional Impact: The achievement of a deeper understanding about the drug phenomenon and the opportunity to live in a completely different culture had an important and very positive impact in my personal and academic background.Program experience: The opportunity to deepen my knowledge about the theme was extremely positive.Through discussions and research, we understood that the drugs abuse phenomenon involves many factors and is highly complex.We also deepened our analyses of national and international contexts and their mutual relations in the genesis of the problem.

Research experience:
The construction of a multi-centric research project on health promotion related to drugs abuse was not easy.Various characteristics placed the 4 nurse researchers and 2 advisors in different positions as to possible methodological options, the selection of study contexts and theoretical reference frameworks, besides differences in daily professional activities.The construction of one single project required several moments of negotiation, translations back and forth between Spanish, Portuguese and English, besides a steady confidence in the possibility of constructing joint proposals among different realities.When the project became a reality and was approved by the Ethics Committee at the University of Alberta, this represented the completion of a joint effort, in which the similarities and the identity of Nursing overcame the difficulties and differences between people and nations.

Personal impact:
One personal impact provided by this experience was the creation of bonds of comradeship and friendship with people from different origins.Both my colleagues from Latin America and from Canada became part of my personal and professional life, and I still keep contact with them.However, I believe that the main personal impact was the creation of a group identity.By taking distance from the context I was familiar with, I could perceive myself as a Latin-American nurse, with potentials to develop and limitations to overcome, with contributions to offer and to accept, a person who is part of this group.The level of language ability ranged widely among participants.English was to be the lingua franca, but there was insufficient time allowed at the beginning of the program for language preparation in English before participants were expected to undertake the theoretical part of the program.This presented enormous challenges to some of the participants and made the beginning weeks extremely stressful.Nevertheless, regional and international partnerships were forged and each person who participated in the project was transformed in some way.There is a ripple effect from this initial model of technical cooperation for research capacitybuilding, as many of the nursing faculty who participated in this project have continued on to accept leadership roles in their faculties with respect to drug demand reduction and/or to develop related research into the drug phenomenon.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
The phenomenon of the use and abuse of In 1997, CICAD, with financial support from the Government of Japan initially, and later from the United States and Canada, initiated a unique experience with selected schools of nursing in Latin America.The goal was to prepare faculty and, through them, future nursing graduates to work in the field of demand reduction with activities related to health promotion, prevention of drug use and abuse, and social integration.This experience was divided into four phases: Phase I -pilot experiment with a few schools of nursing; Phase II -expanding the experiences to other schools of nursing; Phase IIIdevelopment of regional and international partnerships to provide research capacity-building programs for nursing faculty; and Phase IV -implementation of new models of nursing intervention in the field of demand reduction.This paper presents a new scholarly leadership model developed by CICAD with the collaboration of the University of Alberta-Faculty of Nursing, to prepare nursing faculty to study the drug phenomenon in Latin America.The faculty at the Latin American Schools of Nursing that participated in this unique and significant experience have been positioned to play a lead role in redefining nurses' roles in society, forming future nursing and health professionals in their countries through visionary and innovative curricula, with an emphasis on the drug phenomenon and international health.They will build science and technology in the field of drug demand reduction, and will transfer knowledge through technology to public policies that are more consistent with current societal demands.Participants in the CICAD/University of Alberta project were strengthened by the program, which involved a nursing leadership model based on knowledge that transforms society.The program offered a life-lasting experience that will multiply in Latin America and influence the transformation of the knowledge society in the future.
(v) prepared a "Letter of Intent" to implement the "First International Research Capacity-Building Program for Nurses to Study the Drug Phenomenon in Latin America" at the University of Alberta-Faculty of Nursing/Edmonton/Alberta/Canada during the Summer of 2003, with financial support from the Government of Canada.To facilitate the process of TC, the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Alberta/Canada invited the representative of CICAD to be Adjunct Faculty during 2002-2003 and, in the summer of 2002, the CICAD representative was responsible for teaching a graduate summer course entitled "International Health and Nursing Leadership".During 2002-2003, CICAD and the Faculty of Nursing planned and organized the program and the curriculum for the "First International Research Capacity-Building Program for Nurses to Study the Drug Phenomenon in Latin America".In the fall of 2002, CICAD, the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Alberta/Canada and the Deans of fifteen Schools of Nursing distributed in ten countries of Latin America, selected the eleven candidates who participated in this program.In February of 2003, CICAD received the financial support from the Government of Canada to implement the "First International Research Capacity-Building Program".The 11 nurses participating in the program were educators and leaders at their universities.The most significant component of the program was its international vision, which mandated an analysis of study phenomena (reducing drug demand) from a holistic and critical perspective, using both quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches.Important strategies used in the program included discussion among colleagues and professors from the University of Alberta Faculty, University of Alberta faculty mentorship on research projects and academic sessions with experts in drug phenomenon.The facilities, infrastructure, databases, bibliographies and communication technology offered by the University of Alberta were factors that allowed the 11 nurses to gain significant lifelong learning skills.Among the lessons learned, those that stand out include working in collaborative networks and learning about technical cooperation, academic mobility, the need for technology transfer, research outcomes, and different ways of creating new spaces and opportunities for nursing in reducing drug demand.INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAM "The First International Research Capacity-Building Program for Nursing Faculty to Study the Drug Phenomenon in Latin America" was implemented with technical and financial support from CICAD-the Government of Canada, and the University of Alberta-Faculty of Nursing during the summer of 2003.The program took one year and was divided into three parts.Part I of the program was implemented onsite at the University of Alberta-Faculty of Nursing and was composed of three Modules, which emphasized the following aspects: (i) Module I -International Health and the Drug Phenomenon; (ii) Module II -The Drug Phenomenon in the Americas; (iii) Module III -Research Methodologies (Qualitative and Quantitative Methods).Part II involved distance mentoring when the participants returned to their countries to implement the multi-centric research studies.Part III involved the process of communication and dissemination of the results of research studies at national and international conferences, meetings, workshops and in peer reviewed publications.For the process of publication, another letter of agreement between CICAD and University of Alberta-Faculty of Nursing was signed, detailing the nature and authorship of the manuscripts that would result from this unique experience.The eleven nurses who participated in the program were enrolled as "Latin American Visiting Scholars" and came from Argentina (1); Brazil (5), Chile (1), Colombia (1), Ecuador (1), Mexico (1) and Peru (1).The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta provided a "Specialization Certificate" for those who had a Masters Degree, and a "Post-Doctoral Certificate" for those with Doctoral Degrees.This program was intended to develop Multi-Centric Research Proposals on drug issues in the areas of health promotion, prevention of use and abuse of drugs, and social integration.The main topic for the development of the multi-centric research studies was "Women, Drugs and Violence in Latin America".The participants were divided into four groups to develop the research proposals, using multi-centric research approaches.The composition of the groups and areas of concentration of the studies according to the main topic is presented below: The multi-centric research groups had a total of three advisors from the University of Alberta-Faculty of Nursing and one representative from CICAD.The requirements for program completion were: (i) conclusion of research studies by each participant of the program within their own country; (ii) preparation and presentation to CICAD of a technical research report in their own language (Spanish or Portuguese); (iii) preparation and presentation of a "Poster" at the "First International Nursing Research Forum in the Field of Demand Reduction in Latin America", organized by CICAD in collaboration with the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil and the National University of Honduras in August of 2004; University of CordobaVisiting Scholar: Alicia del Carmen Luduena, R.N.; M.Nurs.Personal Experience:This international course allowed me to enrich my personal experience with images, values, customs, knowledge and emotions from a heterogeneous group of persons who lived together in solidarity and exercised respect for differences on a daily basis.This experience reinforced my spirit and convictions to accept challenges, strengthen communication skills and reflect on how we use our small and daily spheres of freedom.Program Experience:The program adopted a comprehensive approach, covering academic, professional and personal activities, which maintained an adequate rhythm to achieve the program goals.The academic program on International Health and the Drug Phenomenon, the Drug Phenomenon in the Americas and Research Methodologies discussed themes of central and paramount importance in the formation of nurses involved in the social and health reality of their respective countries and in the formation of new human resources.This was accompanied by enriching experiences, especially library use, contact with training institutions such as the Faculty of Nursing and the International Institute for Qualitative Methodology, and direct contact with Canadian colleagues involved in international programs.Within the program, the English language course which the teachers offered with great technical and human ability had a special meaning.This course provided a valuable tool and exerted significant influence on our possibilities for professional development.Research Experience: The development of this course allowed me to carry out my research project without difficulties.The organization of the research supervision during this process has been extremely fruitful.Applying the qualitative methodologies has been highly useful to improve aspects in all spheres of my profession.Personal Impact: I continue interacting with people from different Latin American countries, who help me to evaluate my individual and collective projects, successful and failed experiences in a better way.Country: Peru University: University Peruana Cayetano Heredia Visiting Scholar: Flor Yesenia Musayon Oblitas, R.N.; Med.& Res.Comments: This International Research Training Program about the Drugs Phenomenon has helped me to propose and lead new studies in this area and, moreover, provide technical advice to new researchers who want to formulate proposals for drugs research.Hence, as a result of this training program, I have been designated as a member of the first Research Coordination team at the Faculty of Nursing of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, responsible for planning new strategies to stimulate and achieve leadership in health research in general and drugs research in particular.Now, due to the research skills I acquired, I represent the Faculty at the level of the university, as a member of the Teaching Research Committee, working with other faculty members on an innovative proposal that increases the university's current lead position as a result of its research activities.At the same time, my Faculty has asked me to represent the institution as a member of the scientific committee involved in the organization of the Pan-American Nursing Research Colloquium, chaired by our Faculty, which this year will call upon nurses from all over the American continent to discuss and propose strategies for strengthening nursing research in our countries.Finally, given the fact that, interinstitutionally speaking, the CICAD/OAS project has managed to turn our Faculty of Nursing into a national benchmark as a training institution that is working seriously to decrease the drugs use and abuse problem in the Peruvian population, it has become easier for me to apply for research funding from public agencies.
fight the problem successfully, as well as how research is possible, and how to develop successful programs.The teacher is much better teaching things that have already been investigated.By my own experience, I can say that it is possible to state that persons who do research can teach because they have the knowledge, since they themselves investigated and will be the ones who motivate the students to know the facts and investigate too.Finally, there is a great professional contribution to the Peruvian society because, as everybody knows, knowledge makes it possible to carry out prevention programs successfully with the only goal of reducing drug consumption that causes big damages to our people, countries and societies.
Country: Ecuador University: University of Guayaquil Visiting Scholar: Ketty Aracely Piedra Chavez, R.N.; M.C.H.Personal Experience: It could only have been a dream to close the breach that separates us from other countries that confront the process of globalization efficiently, if it were not for the initiative and cooperation of the CICAD Project of Nursing Schools for Latin America.The Modality applied breaks the old schemes of University Education, introducing us into a new paradigm of Andragogy, which is the art of educating adults.Program Experience: It was a model of a cross-cultural and academic experience that should be copied by others involved in teaching to adults.Research Experience: The humanistic and scientific knowledge has been tremendously significant in the application of the quantitative methodological patterns, which have been analyzed thoroughly through the installation of the Statistical Informatics Packages, showing more productivity and efficiency.Personal Impact: Due to the high responsibility of being indicated by the School of Nursing of the University of Guayaquil, I became committed to being a student and to training students who are perpetually autonomous and respond to the demands and social tasks, as demanded by the World declaration on Higher Education in the XXI century.Professional Impact: The recognition of the authorities of the University of Guayaquil and the indication of the School of Nursing in the context of the University Community has allowed me, as a Research Specialist who possesses the scientific rigor required in the research area: a) To participate in proposals for Nursing Care Design, Planning and Evaluation.This project is required by the Hospital Education System of the University of Guayaquil, which is a complex and innovative context that has initiated a process of care excellence within the health system of Ecuador.b) As the coordinator of the research and development unit, I will strengthen the tutoring at undergraduate and graduate level with innovative, integrative and expansionist actions required from this Unit, now and in future scenarios.Country: Colombia University: National University of Colombia Visiting Scholar: Maria Carmen Bernal Roldán, R.N.; MEd.Comments: Having the possibility of seeing the professional development of Nursing, in a country like Canada, when I visited Hospitals and Centers of Health, I felt motivated to create a research proposal and see in what forms I can contribute to produce beneficial changes, considering the social, political and economic conditions of my country.Personal Experience: I strengthened my ability to communicate and read in English.This has been beneficial to me as much scientific material is written in this language, and has helped me to make my nursing practice evidence-based.Program Experience: It was a very valuable program.I benefited from hearing what other professionals are contributing to the area of drug demand reduction.All of the themes developed in the program are applicable to the construction of the nursing profession of the future.It was useful to attend this program in another country, as it allowed me to recognize the importance of cultural difference and to consider the cultural diversity of this global village when offering nursing care.Research Experience: Participating in this course has allowed me to gain a practical understanding of the qualitative research process and to recognize that this type of research is very important for me as a nurse.It helps me to deepen aspects of the integrity of human beings and to bring together professional and popular knowledge.I recognized that the University of Alberta has a great strength in qualitative research, with its International Institute of Qualitative Methodology.I have already begun applying the knowledge gained in this program to my work in the undergraduate and post-degree programs at the National University of Colombia, specifically in the maternal -perinatal area.I participate in the CICAD/OAS committee of the Faculty, which is developing different activities in order to strengthen the personal development of the students and community.Personal Impact: The program has sensitized me to the drug phenomenon and helped me to recognize that there is a great influence of the environment that propitiates the use of drugs.For example, the great poverty associated with difficult situations of underemployment and informal employment, low educational level, malnutrition, family violence and alterations in social, emotional and psychological equilibriums.Professional Impact: This was an important program for me.It was my first exposure to International Health and I strengthened my knowledge in the area of the drug phenomenon in Latin America and in aspects of social integration.I recognized that nursing has a great potential that can be developed in the area of drugs consumption prevention, care for addicts and social integration.This potential can be especially developed to support adolescents and young people and to promote healthy behaviors in all human development cycles, in order to contribute to decrease this problem in our society.I have brought the knowledge gained from this program into my professional teaching practice in both undergraduate and graduate programs at the Faculty of Nursing and in extension programs.For example, I create awareness among couples in my maternity and paternity preparation course (taken by parents during the prenatal stage and with mothers during postpartum period) that there are diverse ways to be happy and to cope with problems in a healthy way.The visit to healthcare providers allowed me to recognize the nurse's importance in aspects like education.This motivates me to take maximum advantage of each contact that I have with the users of health care services and I transmit this to my students.By law, in our country consultation time is limited to 20 minutes, which is a very short time.Some day, I hope to be able to impact on policies to expand the contact time with users, in order to strengthen the integrity of care for human beings.Country: Brasil University: Federal University of Santa Catarina Visiting Scholar: Maria do Horto Fontoura Cartana, R.N.; Ph.D. Comments: The First International Capacity-Building Program for Nursing Faculty to Study the Drug Phenomenon in Latin America, implemented with the technical and financial support of CICAD/Government of Canada, in which I had the opportunity to participate in 2003, was a unique chance to join nursing leaders from 7 countries to advance their knowledge and construct collective strategies to cope with a problem their countries have in common: drugs abuse.The program included theoretical training, presenting contents directly related to the phenomenon of drugs abuse in the national and international contexts.It also covered operational contents on adequate research methodologies for different national realities.At the end of Part I of the Program, participants constructed multi-centric research projects, joining the students' and the advisors' efforts to construct research proposals that could be applied in the different national realities.Personal Experience: Participating in this program was at the same time enriching and challenging.Enriching experiences included the opportunity to live with nursing colleagues from other realities over an extended period of time.Living with a group of unknown persons allowed for bonding and friendship, discovering joint interests, values and hidden potentials.The same is true for the friendly welcoming by the Canadian faculty, who tried to understand and overcome the cultural differences between the countries, providing support in fragile times and celebrating individual and collective conquests.The challenging aspect involved overcoming differences in language and habits.This different reality required constant efforts to understand and be understood, to recognize and live in harmony with the peculiarities of the Canadian way of life, as well as that of other colleagues from Latin America.
fights and worries, disputes and new organizations, the group of 11 nurses was successful.I learned that, although I understood a bit of Spanish, this group had its own Spanish-speaking leader who, in a way, had the same cultural origin -Hispanic.The Brazilian participants, on the other hand, all of whom had a doctoral degree, in a way alternated with the group of Canadian nurse participants in using abilities and inabilities to exercise group leadership.Program Experience: My Program Experience clearly revealed the need for a better preparation in terms of English language.Brazilian research institutions that stimulate foreign experiences at doctoral and post-doctoral level should evaluate this knowledge through the TOEFL test, and the score needed is determined by the university and faculty member receiving the student.Another alternative would be offering more time for student with limited English language skills to adapt and get the necessary training.Having someone who There were certainly challenges to this innovative project.It was difficult to work across three languages on each of the four multi-centric research projects.
drugs highlights the interconnectedness of our global world.It is not only the difficult problem of addiction and related illnesses such as HIV, but also all of the troubling sequelae of the drug phenomenon, such as organized crime, violence, and family disintegration, which too have such a significant impact on health status.The first International Program for Research Capacity-Building for Nurses to Study the Drug Phenomenon in the Americas provided a new paradigm for approaching a significant problem in international health in an interdisciplinary way.Participants were enthusiastic about visioning a future for nursing that integrated education, practice and research into a dynamic and progressive process that could respond to the challenges of our global village.Participants have taken this experience back to their respective Schools of Nursing and continue to work collaboratively, both nationally and internationally, in the area of drug demand reduction.