Compassion in a Global Society: Providing Health Education for Refugee Women

Women living in vulnerable situations in other countries arrive in the United States daily. Some of these women have experienced persecution, deprivation, and violence to find refuge in a new country. Until recently, refugee organizations have assisted these women during their first 3 months of settlement with funding from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement to help them integrate into the community. Through some of these refugee organizations, women were provided with necessary health education to navigate the U.S. healthcare system, including reproductive and perinatal care. This article describes the health education needs of newly arrived refugee women. The author, a women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP) who has provided this education, shares a personal perspective. The role of WHNPs and other advanced practice registered nurses who provide women’s healthcare in continuing this service is discussed.