Global Nursing in Low-Resource and Middle-Resource Countries: Challenges and Opportunities in Perioperative Practice

Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2020 Aug;32(3):437-445. doi: 10.1016/j.coms.2020.04.009. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Abstract

There are marked disparities in supply and demand for specialty-trained health care providers in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC). Nurses are at the forefront in volunteering to provide humanitarian health support in local, national, and international disasters. Responding to the call to provide expert medical and surgical education and care in LMIC aligns with the passion and purpose of nursing. This article shares a real-world experience of perioperative nurses in partnership with the surgical team to provide cleft lip/palate repair for children in LMIC. It is all in the smile left behind.

Keywords: Cleft lip/palate repair; Global health nursing; Global surgery; Perioperative nursing.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Cleft Lip / surgery*
  • Cleft Palate / surgery*
  • Developing Countries
  • Humans