Date of Completion
Spring 5-18-2025
Degree Type
Open Access Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Eileen Stuart-Shor
Practice Site Mentor
Aaron Sonah, CRNA, MS, BSN
Second Practice Site Mentor
Mary O’Sullivan, DNP, CRNA
Committee Mentor
Christine Salvucci, DNP, RN, CNE
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leadership plays a crucial role in the functioning of a health system, particularly in resource-constrained settings like Liberia. Effective leadership is essential for identifying solutions and leading teams towards achieving important objectives. Improving leadership competencies among emerging Liberian nurse anesthetists is key to enhancing anesthesiaoutcomes in Liberia. The delivery of high-quality, safe anesthesia in Liberia is contingent on this.
METHODS: This quality improvement project (QI) implemented a transnational blended learning leadership andmanagement course to increase the knowledge, skills, and confidence of Liberian student nurse anesthetists. We used quantitative methods to organize and describe selected outcomes. We also used qualitative surveys and interviews to assess the course’s value and feasibility.
INTERVENTION: The intervention implemented was a competency-based transnational blended learning leadership and management course embedded in a nurse anesthesia program in Liberia. The course consisted of four modules; each module was three weeks in length and covered leadership and management topics tied to core competencies. The course was co-taught by a US-based and a Liberian-based faculty member and involved in-class and online pedagogy.
RESULTS: Eighty-six percent of the students were able to open, read, view, hear, and understand course materials eachweek over the 12-week semester. The Liberian co-instructor was able to open, read, listen to, and share the course material 100% of the time. Either both or one of the co-instructors was able to participate in synchronous sessions 100% of thetime. Students did not achieve the threshold score of ≥ 80% on their exams; however, they did achieve a mean score of ≥ 90% on the evaluation of the active learning activities and leadership group project.
CONCLUSION: Overall, the project successfully achieved its process-oriented aims. The course demonstrated its ability to deliver content, and the model facilitated a smooth semester; however, it did not meet the quantitative learning outcome (exam scores). This project provides valuable insights into how to implement transnational teaching with attention to meeting the needs of the training institution's faculty and students; however, we need to do more work to ensure that the learning outcomes are adequately addressed and assessed.
Recommended Citation
Carter, Donnell, "The Implementation of a Blended Learning Course to Enhance Leadership and Management Capabilities in Liberian Student Nurse Anesthetists" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects. 56.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/nursing_dnp_capstone/56