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Transcultural and intercultural competence through study abroad is widely recognized as a preferred teaching approach for the development of globally competent health care practitioners because of the noteworthy effects that these experiential opportunities have on students. Sparse research has been conducted to determine if controversial short-term study abroad trips of less than two weeks are achieving positive outcomes. The purpose of this interpretative qualitative study was to describe the nature and meanings of a short-term international cultural experience for U.S. nursing students that travelled to Tanzania over an 8-day period. The results indicated that the participants experienced culture shock, but they also gained in self-awareness, cultural empathy, and leadership skills. The data also revealed that for many participants, this international experience led to the development of cultural humility. Langer's theory of Mindfulness, and Campinha-Bacote's Process of Cultural Competence provided the theoretical framework for this study. This paper also discusses pedagogical approaches for short-term programs and outcomes.

The 3-calendar-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) curriculum program was developed to facilitate a quicker entry into professional nursing practice. This program offered many advantages, including financial and time-saving benefits for students, more efficient use of campus facilities, and flexibility in faculty scheduling. Evaluation of the program showed benefits in the success rate of course-work, in retention and graduation rates, and in subsequent NCLEX-RN pass rates. The NCLEX-RN pass rate for students in the 3-calendar-year BSN program was 98.33%, compared with the national average pass rate (88.01%) for the same 5-year period for first-time test takers. The 3-calendar-year BSN program met the needs of both traditional and nontraditional students. It produced quality nurse graduates who were successful NCLEX-RN first-time test takers. The program has potential to be adopted by other universities with a student base composed of individuals of modest resources and diverse backgrounds.