THE ASSOCIATION FOR NURSING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Abbreviated version below of article by Leanna Ross, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, MEDSURG-BC for ANPD.org
Many of us are intrigued by the idea of volunteering, yet reluctant due to time constraints, inadequate skills, and lack of support. For nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners, these barriers can be minimized, opening volunteer opportunities that expand your practice to global audiences… It is estimated that 50% of the world lacks access to essential health services (World Telehealth Initiative, 2025)…NPD practitioners are valuable resources in addressing this global health problem.
A Partnership Is Born
In 2021, Providence, a large Catholic health system, partnered with World Telehealth Initiative (WTI), a nonprofit organization that provides support to healthcare facilities in underserved communities across 17 countries (WTI, 2025)…
In this partnership, WTI establishes relationships with hospitals in underserved global communities, assesses their clinical and educational needs, and coordinates with volunteer healthcare experts around the world to meet those needs using a virtual platform… Providence invites employees to participate and currently has 81 physicians, and 58 nurses involved (WTI, 2025). Multiple volunteer opportunities are available, including physician and nurse mentorship, medical training, virtual specialty consultations, and nursing education. NPD practitioners are well-positioned to participate in this initiative…
As an NPD specialist with Providence serving nurses transitioning in practice, I engaged with WTI in February of 2024. I began to realize how the NPD practitioner roles are uniquely suited to support the educational needs of healthcare providers in global communities…
Getting started was a simple process. I submitted an online application, specifying my areas of expertise and languages spoken. I am fluent only in English, and many opportunities were available. A WTI program associate guided me through program expectations and training requirements, including use of the telehealth software for virtual connections. WTI then initiated an analysis process to match my areas of expertise to the needs of partnering hospitals.
Taking My NPD Skills to Bhutan, From Home
My first match was with Central Regional Referral Hospital (CRRH) in Bhutan. The WTI program associate contacted me with the requested topic and scheduling options…The WTI program associate shared key information about the facility and learners and connected me with their WTI site coordinator. I learned that CRRH is a tertiary care hospital with a dialysis unit, and a referral center receiving acute care patients from smaller facilities across a large geographical area. Learners would include acute care nurses, selected physicians, nursing students, and other healthcare providers…
On the night of the session, which was morning in Bhutan, the WTI site coordinator projected the slides in their classroom, advancing on my prompt. I joined remotely using telehealth software with the camera on. Learners were able to visualize me on their telehealth device, and I could see their classroom on my home computer…
To date, I have facilitated an additional 11 sessions with Longisa County Referral Hospital in Kenya and three with El Elyon Hospital in Togo...
A Win / Win / Win Situation
Volunteerism with this initiative has demonstrated gains for the global communities served, the volunteers, and our employers. Global partners report advances in knowledge and skills of caregivers, improved health of their communities, and appreciation for cross-cultural connections. Volunteers experience a sense of fulfillment through cultural exchange, enhancement of our own professional skills, personal growth, and strengthened engagement with a supportive employer...
Connecting with my colleagues in Bhutan, Kenya, and Togo reminds me that we are partners in this work of caring. As I log in, I see a room full, standing room only, of students, highly skilled nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals eager to learn. Local resources are limited so everyone joins with a genuine desire to enhance knowledge and skills. A local chaplain offers a prayer of blessing and gratitude. We learn from each other, and we share in the mission to promote human health across the globe. This is nursing, and I’m honored to be a part of it…