Abstract
Introduction: Nurses represent the largest global healthcare workforce and are uniquely positioned to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, international nursing education frameworks demonstrate inconsistent integration of SDG-related competencies, limiting graduates’ preparedness for global health advocacy.
Methods: This Global Health Action Plan aims to prepare prelicensure nursing students for meaningful engagement in global health advocacy by addressing these educational gaps. A three-phase approach is proposed. Phase 1 involves a scoping review of existing literature and global curricular frameworks to identify current strengths and deficiencies. Phase 2 employs surveys and interviews with nursing students and educators across diverse settings, to evaluate knowledge, preparedness, and perceived barriers. Phase 3 focuses on the development and dissemination of an open-access, global repository of teaching and learning resources aligned with SDGs. The repository will include evidence-based curricular exemplars, course blueprints, case studies, advocacy activities, and interactive modules designed to enhance student engagement and competency development. Collaboration with international stakeholders, including Sigma, academic institutions, and professional organizations, will support dissemination and sustainability. Effectiveness will be monitored through repository usage metrics and ongoing evaluation of SDG progress indicators.
Results: A preliminary review of international curricular standards across multiple countries revealed persistent gaps in key areas, including social determinants of health, environmental and climate-related health, gender and mental health, and health equity. Faculty and institutional barriers, along with limited insight into students’ knowledge and confidence in advocacy, further constrain effective integration. A needs assessment and survey are pending. A draft repository for furthering nursing faculty and student resources in the SDGs was proposed and further development is ongoing.
Conclusion: Ultimately, this work contributes to advancing global health equity and preparing a nursing workforce equipped to address complex population health challenges worldwide.
Notes
Presenter notes available in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Alpha Theta
Lead Author Affiliation
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document, Video Recording
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Global Health, Advocacy, Prelicensure, Undergraduate Nursing Students, Sustainable Development Goals, Health Equity
Recommended Citation
Citty, Sandra W.; Opsahl, Angela G.; Obi, Comfort; Howle, Ashley C.; DeSapri, Andrea; and Dias, Jacqueline M., "Global Health Action Plan: Preparing New Nurses for Global Health Advocacy" (2026). Global Advocacy. 22.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/ga_series/22
Loading...
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Faculty/Mentor Approved: Sigma Academy Participant Poster
Acquisition
Self-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-07
Full Text of Presentation
wf_yes
Description
Sigma Global Health Action Plan - Cohort 8 - June 2026 Global Health Action Plan: Preparing New Nurses for Global Health Advocacy