Nursing's Potential in Health Diplomacy: Challenges, Benefits, and the Road Ahead

Abstract

Background: Global health diplomacy has gained prominence in the nursing profession, allowing nurses to contribute significantly to international healthcare efforts. This literature review explores the challenges and benefits faced by nurses engaged in global health diplomacy, highlighting their role in addressing complex health issues that transcend borders.

Aims: This review aims to examine the challenges and benefits of global health diplomacy for nurses, emphasizing their unique perspective in the international healthcare arena.

Methods: The review consolidates existing literature and research on global health diplomacy, with a focus on nursing. It explores the complexities and opportunities inherent in this field and the role of nurses in promoting global health.

Results: The findings demonstrate that nurses deal with challenges related to the complexity of international healthcare systems, cultural differences, and language barriers. However, by overcoming these challenges, they can significantly influence global health policies, enhance healthcare access in remote areas, and advocate for vulnerable populations. Global health diplomacy empowers nurses to broaden their professional horizons, gain valuable cultural knowledge, and develop leadership skills. Despite the limitations of qualitative data and the evolving nature of global health diplomacy, the benefits of nurses' involvement in this field are substantial.

Conclusions: Nurses engaging in global health diplomacy play a crucial role in strengthening global healthcare systems and promoting health equity. The challenges they face are outweighed by the positive impact they can make on healthcare worldwide. Further research and a deeper analysis of the impact of global health diplomacy on nursing practice are needed, along with the recognition of contextual variations within healthcare systems and local realities.