Embracing diversity: measuring the impact of an international immersion learning experience on nursing students’ cultural beliefs and values

Abstract

Objectives An international Nursing Leadership Collaborative covened in Japan to hold a patient safety and quality workshop for nursing students from six countries. The purpose was to measure students’ self reported beliefs reflecting sensitivity and openness to cultural diversity before and after the international experience. Methods A pre-post-test design was used and the Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory was administered to international undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Results The group aggregate data analysis indicate that prior to the start of the workshop, the group presented itself as quite introspective and after the workshop the group reported being more sophisticated in making causal explanations about why the world works in the way it does. Conclusions Nursing students experienced an expanded awareness of their beliefs and values that reflect a greater degree of intercultural sensitivity for acceptance of inclusivity and diversity after the experience.