Interprofessional global service learning: A pharmacy and nursing practice experience in Botswana

ObjectivesTo develop, implement, and assess an interprofessional global service-learning experience in rural government-run clinics and a community hospital for pharmacy and nursing students.DesignAn interprofessional educational experience was developed for volunteer pharmacy students to collaborate with nursing students in an established study-abroad elective course. Students participated in interprofessional activities for 27 days in Kanye, Botswana, where they engaged in clinical practice in community clinics and hospital units for 15 days between June 18 and July 15.AssessmentFive pharmacy students and 11 nursing students participated in the program. A qualitative survey assessed student perceptions of the interprofessional clinical experience while reflection papers assessed service learning.ConclusionsGlobal service learning is a valuable opportunity to prepare collaborative teamwork among pharmacy and nursing students. In addition, partnerships with other health care programs’ established educational experiences can facilitate pharmacy program expansion into global interprofessional practice experiences. Though validated assessments of global service learning impact on cultural competency and compassion were not performed here, preliminary evidence from reflective papers and student debriefing sessions suggest an interprofessional global service-learning experience develops both. More research is needed to measure the degree to which interprofessional global service learning can impact cultural competency and the expression of compassion.