LAUSR

Providing care for vulnerable groups requires the development of competencies such as openness to diversity, cultural sensitivity and equity. Health education institutions face the challenge of preparing students in developing these competencies in a global world. The Bridging the Atlantic program, a partnership between the University of the Azores (Portugal) and the University of Dartmouth (MA, US) in the field of Community Nursing, was created to respond to this need. Students from both universities work collaboratively to develop competencies in providing health care to vulnerable groups based on the IN-STEP (International Student Exchange Partnership) Framework. (i) to contribute to the improvement of the health status of vulnerable groups; (ii) to develop clinical competencies addressing vulnerable groups among nursing students. Between 2015 and 2019, 110 students were involved in health promotion projects carried out with aggregates of elderly immigrants, deportees, fishermen, children from low income schools. The benefits for the vulnerable groups were mainly related to raise awareness in the communities concerning the problems these groups face. Regarding the impact of the program on training, students reported they developed competencies on: (i) understanding cultural differences; (ii) recognizing different health care systems; (iii) reconsidering the role of the nurse; (iv) building teamwork; (v) integrating theory into practice; and, (vi) peer mutual learning. Engaging in health promotion projects globally through collaborative efforts seemed to be effective for the improvement of health of vulnerable groups and student development. Universities need to deepen the development of competencies in students to intervene with vulnerable groups in a global world. Although designed for nursing students in a community context, this model can be used in similar ways by other fields of health or social intervention.