Protecting the rights of research participants when conducting studies within an international context presents many challenges. The purpose of this article was to compare and contrast the process of obtaining informed consent in two very different countries - Swaziland and Pakistan. Major aspects of the informed-consent process presented included identification of gatekeepers, seeking permission from officials, negotiating with these officials and Institutional Review Board (IRB) committees in regard to the type of data to be collected, and explaining informed consent to participants in the field. Data for this article is based upon qualitative research of collaboration between nurses and healers in Swaziland and from a variety of studies completed in Pakistan. These studies demonstrate the inadequacy and complexity of applying western-based concepts of informed consent to developing countries.

Currently nursing education at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan consists of a 3 year diploma program, a 2 year post‐registered nurse (RN) of Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BScN) completion program and a new 4 year generic Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program. The purpose of this paper is to describe the evaluation process and findings of the newly implemented BScN program. The program is unique, as it is the first and only BScN program throughout Pakistan. Therefore, it has the responsibility of setting the standards for university nursing education for the entire country. Sampling for this qualitative evaluation study included the first class admitted into the BScN program, nursing faculty, and nursing staff involved in clinical experiences of the BScN students. The sample was divided into homogeneous focus groups to elicit the data. Focus groups were audio‐taped with results being categorized into themes. Findings from this evaluation study support a typology of learning discussed in the literature related to nursing education. In addition, faculty experiences of implementing the new program mirror those of faculty from other countries.