The Atlanta - Tbilisi Healthcare Partnership |
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Georgia State University
Tbilisi State University
Purpose: to offer a university-based baccalaureate nursing program for beginning student nurses and a baccalaureate completion program of a shorter duration for practicing nurses through a partnership between Georgia State University School of Nursing and Javakhishvilli Tbilisi State University. If he health care reform movement is to succeed in Georgia it will require nurses that are educated in a manner that will support a modern health care system.Goals
The development of a School of Nursing at Tbilisi State University that is internationally recognized for its excellence in nursing education.
Continue the established partnership of the School of Nursing, with GSU as the sponsor, and Tbilisi State University.
Assist TSU faculty in the implementation of the curriculum, which was designed cooperatively between TSU and GSU over the past three years. It meets the educational needs of students in Georgia and the Transcaucasus.
Assist TSU in the technical aspects of the administration and maintenance of a modern school of nursing.
Internationalize the GSU School of Nursing faculty through collaborative teaching and research in Georgia and the Transcaucasus.
Background
Since the inception of the American International Health Alliance (AIHA) Atlanta-Tbilisi Healthcare Partnership in 1992, nursing has been very much a presence in the overall planning of a new healthcare system for Georgia. However, nursing in this newly independent country is at a crossroads. Although great progress has been made in the concepts of modern healthcare delivery since 1992, if the healthcare reform movement in Georgia is to succeed it will require nurses that are educated in a manner that will support such a modern system. Well educated nurses are pivotal in executing a primary care/health promotion/disease prevention model of health care by Georgia. Nurses can provide health promotion and disease prevention approaches to populations in both urban and rural areas, complementing any public health proposal that is put forth elsewhere in this document. Prevention of disease in a time of scarce medical resources is one way to reduce healthcare expenditures.
At the present time there is no nursing program in existence in a higher education setting in Georgia. There are no nurses in the workforce who have been educated in a university based baccalaureate program. There are no nursing programs in Georgia now that can educate nurses who are able to function in a modern healthcare system. Although under development, nursing licensure and nursing standards which protect the public have not been implemented. Recommendations from World Bank consultants visiting Georgia in May of 1997 and others have emphasized the need for university based nursing education. The School of Nursing in the College of Health and Human Sciences at GSU, and Tbilisi State University have been in partnership since 1995 to establish a baccalaureate nursing education program in the country of Georgia.
The nurse participants from both sides of the Atlanta-Tbilisi partnership have put forth a great deal of effort in implementing a three-tiered approach to upgrade the nursing profession. The plan has encompassed the enhancement of skills of practicing nurses, the development of a professional nursing organization to assist in dissemination of education to the community of nurses and the implementation of a university based program for nursing education.
The greatest accomplishments of the Atlanta-Tbilisi partnership exchanges within the nursing profession with respect to establishing high level nursing education in Georgia are the:
Ongoing consultation since 1992 regarding the nursing profession with the Minister of Health and his Health Care Reform Team
Institution of the Georgian Nurses Association, an organization that will write and maintain standards for the profession, offer continuing education for existing nurses and act in an advisory capacity to the Minister of Health concerning nursing as a profession. Examples of US standards have been provided as a model for Georgian nursing.
Appointment of a nurse advisor to the Minister of Health
1996 agreement between TSU and GSU in Atlanta to cooperate in launching a university based baccalaureate nursing program.
Grant funds from an intramural International program Development at Georgia State University for two years to support Transcaucasus educational projects.
1997 two month long visits of two physicians from TSU to GSU School of Nursing and Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta to start the planning for a school of nursing in Tbilisi
Opening of the Nursing Resource Center in the NILC in Tbilisi in March, 1998
1998 month long visit of three physicians from TSU to GSU School of Nursing to plan and develop a curriculum for the school of nursing at TSU
Return visit to Tbilisi of GSU School of Nursing Director and Undergraduate Program Director to plan the school of nursing
Promise by the Minister of Health in April of 1998 to furnish 50,000 lari to assist TSU in starting a school of nursing
All courses for the School of Nursing at TSU developed and approved by TSU
Dean and faculty appointed by TSU
Students chosen for the first class
All efforts thus far have been funded by US AID through the American International Health Alliance, and small international grants from GSU. Additional funding is needed to launch this effort in a sustainable manner.
Milestones
Renovation and furnishing of the Nursing Learning Laboratory at TSU
Successful completion of the baccalaureate year for the first twenty students
Deliverables
Plan for renovation of space and equipment for the Nursing Learning Laboratory
Renovation and furnishing of the Nursing Learning Laboratory
Installation of equipment and software
Opening of school
Budget (five years, estimated)
| Refurbishment | $30,000 |
| Equipment | $150,000 |
| Internet Support | $20,000 |
| Administrative | $60,000 |
| Faculty Support | $100,000 |
| Tuition for Students | $200,000 |
| Travel | $50,000 |
| Supplies and other costs | $50,000 |
| Total | $660,000 |
CONTACT
Judy Wold <nurjlw@panther.gsu.edu>
| Summary of Accomplishments | Summary of Future Plans |
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Last Update: June 7, 2001