Scholars Program Brings Nurses from All Over the World

Since 2015, the Cleveland Clinic’s Visiting Nurse Scholars program has opened Cleveland Clinic’s doors to dozens of nurses from different health systems and hospitals, giving them the opportunity to shadow Cleveland Clinic nurses in a number of specialty areas.

“Our Scholars program is an onsite observational experience for nurses from around the world,” says Kathy Mau, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-AG, ACNS-BC, CEN, Senior Director of Nursing Education and Professional Development. “In the past year, we have hosted nurses from Singapore, Taiwan, China, Lebanon, Korea and parts of the U.S. in our heart and vascular, oncology, geriatrics, wound/ostomy care, intensive care and peri-anesthesia clinical areas.”

Based on the learning objectives of the nurse and his/her sponsoring organization, visiting scholars are matched with Cleveland Clinic experts who serve as their mentors while visiting Cleveland Clinic. This helps scholars develop a deeper understanding of their area of interest along with alternative approaches to the management of complex patients.

Mau explains that these experiences center on clinical specialties and leadership. Focused nursing tracks for group learning, ranging from Advanced Practice and Clinical Specialties to Quality and Research are also available. The duration of the program is typically between one to four weeks depending on the need and can be combined with other Executive Education Programs offered at Cleveland Clinic.

“This exchange of knowledge and sharing of medical research is a win for nurses and for healthcare overall,” says Mau. “The collaboration opens the door for new ideas and sharing of evidence-based best practices.”

Mau says some of key requirements for the program include five years of nursing experience, the ability to speak and write fluently in English, the submission of written objectives, and a letter of recommendation from a sponsoring institution. Upon completion of the program, scholars are able to apply best practices of the Zielony Nursing Institute to patient care at their own institutions.

“We are honored to be asked for help by other health organizations,” says Mau. “It is always a new experience for us as well as the nurses who visit. And we have a collegial exchange of ideas that often continues online long after the nurses leave and the program ends.”

Read more about the Visiting Nurse Scholars program on the Cleveland Clinic website.