UND grad impacts care across the globe

For UND alum Jackie Gibbons ’96, Nursing has taken her far. Literally.

In 2022, Sanford Health launched a new program intended to connect nurses around the globe as mentors with a selection of Sanford World Clinics.

Out of 80 applicants, Jackie (Thoma) Gibbons, a 1996 UND Nursing graduate was one of six candidates selected from Sanford as a Sanford World Clinic Global Nurse Mentor. Gibbons is employed as an RN Clinical Educator at Sanford Health in Bemidji, MN.

Gibbons’ selection as a finalist focused on her intent to help build a sustainable nurse education curriculum at Sanford’s Costa Rica hospitals.

As part of the program, nurse mentors are expected to join their World Clinic partners virtually for at least ten hours a month and visit their partnering World Clinic at least once.

Connecting Mentors

Gibbons connected with Felipe Sanchez, a new nurse educator employed nearly 3,000 miles away at Hospital Metropolitano in Costa Rica. In May, Sanchez traveled to Bemidji to visit Sanford Health to tour and see day-to-day operations.

“We have been working together to build an Inpatient Education Program, empower nurses, enhance critical thinking, and implement evidence-based practice,” shares Gibbons.

The two quickly began their work, establishing orientation pathways, policies and procedures, and education classes for the nurses of Hospital Metropolitano. Sanchez and Gibbons also traveled to Fargo to present at The Sanford Nursing Symposium.

Costa Rica bound

In August, Gibbons made a trip to visit Sanchez’s hospital. During that visit, the duo held the first Skills and Simulation training in Costa Rica outside of an academic setting.

“I was amazed by all the similarities between nursing in Costa Rica and the US,” says Gibbons. “Though we have different resources, we all have the same goal of striving to provide exceptional care.”

According to Gibbons, one significant difference is that Costa Rica has an abundance of nurses who may have to work for several years as a nursing assistant or LPN before an RN job is available.

“It has been an amazing experience impacting care across the globe,” says Gibbons, “and it all started with my nursing education at UND.”

Even though Gibbons’ mentorship was complete at the end of 2022, she and Sanchez remain in close contact, sharing resources.

Gibbons says that the experience has been the highlight of her career. “Even though I was the mentor, I learned so much that will impact the education and care I provide in Bemidji.” The next mentorship cohort begins soon, and Gibbons looks forward to following their journeys.