Abstract

The severe shortage of skilled maternity care providers in countries with low resources results in a staggering number of maternal and newborn deaths annually. University nursing and nurse-midwifery programs are especially well-equipped to participate in multi-lateral and bi-lateral education collaborations to address this shortage. This paper presents a perspective on how universities in well-resourced settings especially can share their education capacity with globally distant institutions with chronic unmet needs for well-prepared nurse faculty and skilled midwifery professionals. Start-up administrative, operational and initial site visit considerations were described. Best practices for academic programs and accreditation requirements were reviewed, as well as recommendations for selecting students who are likely to be successful participants. Guides to program success are promoted such as cultural humility, mutual respect, courtesy, and close attention to health, safety, and emotional balance. 

Key words: Global midwifery, education collaboration, ethics, best practices, education system strengthening.