The Lived Experience of Nursing Students Who Study Abroad: A Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

Nurse Researchers need to explore study abroad programs and identify their impact on the development of cultural competence and global perspectives in nursing students. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of nursing students who study abroad and to identify benefits and impediments that may be used to spawn future research and shape existing and future study abroad programs. The research question for this phenomenological study was "What is the lived experience of nursing students who study abroad?" A purposive sample of nursing students was obtained and included participants who completed an elective study abroad nursing course to either England or Dominica between 2006 and 2008. Data collection was obtained from two sources: semistructured interviews and written reflective travel journals. Four themes became evident as a result of becoming immersed in students' written and spoken words. Those themes were recognizing, encountering, adapting, and mastering. Findings from this study suggest that there are vast benefits of study abroad programs for nursing students including, but not limited to, increased personal growth, awareness of diverse cultures, adapting despite an unfamiliar environment, and increased self-efficacy. These findings have strong implications for nursing education, practice, and research.

Experiential Learning: An Undergraduate Nursing Study Abroad Program to Costa Rica

“…• Cultural competency study are supported by similar themes reported in the literature (Edmonds, 2010;Mkandawire-Valhmu & Doering, 2012) study abroad programs differ in length and destinations making comparisons difficult across studies. However, programs reported in the literature were similar in goals and objectives to this program.…”

“…A phenomenological study (Edmonds, 2010) was conducted with 18 American nursing students who travelled to Dominica or England participated in a one-week study abroad program. "Four themes were evident as a result of the study: recognizing, encountering, adapting and mastering" (Edmonds, 2012, p. 33).…”

“…"Four themes were evident as a result of the study: recognizing, encountering, adapting and mastering" (Edmonds, 2012, p. 33). The benefits of a study abroad experience in nursing education were discussed as a means to develop cultural competence (Edmonds, 2010).…”

A Medical Mission to Guatemala as an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

“…1 In the health professions, increasing numbers of medical, nursing, and pharmacy students are participating in international learning or service experiences. [2][3][4] Students who study outside of the United States at some point during their academic careers tend to develop a greater appreciation for cultural differences, learn to discard stereotypes, and increase their level of cultural awareness. 3 Health professions students who have participated in international clinical experiences have demonstrated benefits such as heightened clarity about career roles, including those related to underserved multicultural populations, increased compassion toward patients, increased appreciation for and confidence in clinical skills, and increased awareness of resource use.…”

“…[2][3][4] Students who study outside of the United States at some point during their academic careers tend to develop a greater appreciation for cultural differences, learn to discard stereotypes, and increase their level of cultural awareness. 3 Health professions students who have participated in international clinical experiences have demonstrated benefits such as heightened clarity about career roles, including those related to underserved multicultural populations, increased compassion toward patients, increased appreciation for and confidence in clinical skills, and increased awareness of resource use. 5,6 Pharmacy students and academicians recognize the importance of a global perspective with regard to health and disease, and their interest in seeking experiential opportunities around the world is growing.…”