Visiting scholar from Brazil is passionate about nursing education and empowering nursing students to make a difference

Agostinho Araújo

Agostinho A. C. Araújo wants to empower nursing students to make a difference. A visiting scholar from Brazil, Araújo is a registered nurse with a master of science degree currently pursuing his PhD at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo. He is also an ad hoc reviewer of the Journal of Advanced Nursing, SAGE Open Nursing and Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem.

The Global Nursing Office at the Faculty of Nursing provides grants to visiting scholars from low- and middle-income countries who wish to pursue their research at the University of Alberta. The program aims to build capacity for international research collaborations, foster two-way knowledge sharing and help address global health inequities.

Araújo is in Edmonton for three months, working under the supervision of Jordana Salma, an expert in global health and community-based research. We contacted Araújo to learn more about him, his research, and how his time at the U of A will benefit his home community in Brazil

Tell us about your research.

I am passionate about nursing education, especially investigating the effects of different technologies in nursing. Technologies are growing. They are transforming how care is being offered to patients and nurses need to be prepared for that.

My goal is to understand how wearable technology could be incorporated into clinical nursing education as an effective approach to help students transition theory into practice. The scoping review project I am carrying out here at the U of A aims to identify the repercussions of wearables in clinical nursing education. 

How will your research address unique health challenges in your home country?

Brazil is a continental country with educational discrepancies. I hope my research can show the efficacy of different education modalities in improving nursing education so we can move the knowledge forward to achieving civility. I hope to help nursing students and educators develop their competencies to establish a high-quality teaching-learning process.

Why did you choose to attend the U of A Faculty of Nursing to pursue your nursing studies/research?

The U of A Nursing program is recognized worldwide for its excellence and has a strong partnership with the Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing at the University of São Paulo.

How has funding contributed to your research?

In Brazil, my PhD is being funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). 

The Visiting Scholar Grant is truly important to make this opportunity at the U of A possible. With this investment, international students are enabled to act as transformative agents in nursing in their home countries.

How has your research supervisor helped you?

Dr. Jordana Salma is my supervisor. I feel very empowered since she believes in me and my potential. She is always furthering my vision, encouraging my passion for nursing education and giving me opportunities to keep growing. 

I am so delighted to have this research team — people from Brazil and Canada. There is a diversity of partners; undergraduate and graduate students and educators are involved.

Canada is a lovely country with supportive people who always want to help. I feel very welcome here.

Have your research findings been published?

My previous scoping review, “Positive and negative aspects of psychological stress in clinical education in nursing,” was published in Nurse Education Today and motivated me to do the research I am carrying out now at the U of A. 

I intend to submit a paper about the repercussions of the use of wearables in clinical nursing education to a journal focused on nursing education. 

What are you learning at the U of A and how will it benefit people back home in Brazil?

The most important thing has been networking with global researchers. Being part of a research group with other international students is such an incredible experience! It allows us to share our different perspectives in achieving the same goal. 

I am also improving my educational skills by attending simulation labs in undergraduate courses with a focus on clinical education. As a future educator, I believe I can make a difference by incorporating the skills learned here in the teaching-learning process with Brazilian nursing students.

What advice would you give to those interested in the Visiting Scholar Program?

I would like to encourage all people interested in the Visiting Scholar Program to move forward with the application. Don’t be afraid! You can do it and your dream can come true.

What’s next?

I would like to come back to the U of A in the future, maybe during my PhD or as a postdoctoral fellow. 

Agostinho will present his research during the Jan. 31, 2024 City Wide Nursing Rounds. Learn more and register.