British paediatric and American pediatric nurses: how well do we know each other?
ISSUES AND PURPOSE: To identify the similarities and differences between pediatric nurses in the United States and Britain, and to compare knowledge of each other’s healthcare systems. DESIGN AND METHODS: A descriptive comparative study of 55 U.S. pediatric nurses and 37 U.K. paediatric nurses. Knowledge tests were constructed as parallel forms of items about each healthcare system. “Self-knowledge” and “other-knowledge” scores were compared. RESULTS: British nurses’ scores were higher for self and other than were U.S. nurses’ scores. Individual items suggested that U.K. nurses were more aware of U.S. systems than U.S. nurses were of U.K. systems. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The U.S. and U.K. health systems are equally progressive, yet fundamentally different. To collaborate effectively, we must understand the similarities and differences.
