Background: Intense emotional demands of oncology nursing create a stressful work environment and increase the likelihood of leaving. The study aims to explore, describe, and understand how pediatric hematology/oncology nurses caring for chronically ill or dying patients use their spirituality to cope with job stress, maintain spiritual well-being (SWB), and continue to work in this specialty. Methods: A concurrent mixed-method research design consisted of a web-based survey and interview. Data collection included demographics, intent to leave questions, and four valid and reliable research instruments measuring spirituality, stress, coping, and SWB. A responsive interview guide directed interviews. Results: Quantitative analysis ( n = 130) revealed moderate to high levels of spirituality, moderate stress, coping, and SWB. Stress and SWB were weakly, inversely correlated ( r = −.221, p = .011) indicating lower stress was associated with greater SWB. Coping and SWB were weakly, positively correlated ( r = .248, p = .005) indicating greater coping was associated with greater SWB. An intent to leave in the next year was reported by 5.4%. Emerging themes from qualitative data ( n = 22) included faith-informed or existential spirituality, work environment, and emotional/psychological stressors such as feeling overwhelmed or witnessing suffering and coping through self-care and spirituality. Dimensions of SWB included spiritually based coping and life’s meaning and purpose. Intent to leave was related to the work environment or travel distance. Discussion: A nurse’s spirituality offers a mechanism for coping with accumulated losses and grief encountered in clinical practice and in turn supports SWB.

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Background/Purpose: Study abroad programs, through international exchanges in undergraduate nursing schools, are becoming common in response to a globalized world and imperative for nurses to acquire cultural awareness and related competencies. Increased recognition of exchanges exists, with limited empirical evaluation of learning outcomes. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of a short-term international exchange on Portuguese and American nursing students in respect to its influence on learning. Methods: A mixed-method research design was utilized for data collection. Online survey (demographic data and revised HPSISN tool) and focus group data collection using synchronous chat groups captured nursing student experiences and perceptions about their participation in a two-sided exchange. Results: Focus group data from sixteen nursing students (aged 20-39) delineated two major themes: 1) Expectations of the student exchange with three subthemes: a) motivations to participate, b) met versus unmet expectations, and c) beyond expectations; and, 2) Learning (how and what) with six subthemes: a) understanding cultural differences, b) recognizing a different health care system, c) reconsidering the role of the nurse, d) building team work, e) integrating theory into practice, and f) peer mutual learning. Survey data across the four dimensions: 1) Perspectives of exchange, 2) attitude toward community involvement, 3) future professional work and, 4) personal reflection exhibited students acquired personal and professional competencies that were beyond their expectations of the exchange. Conclusions: Results strongly support nursing student participation in international exchange programs develops personal growth and professional competencies that may impact future practice when caring for diverse patient populations. Universities should develop and foster global programs for student engagement.

BackgroundImmigration policies can cause significant public health consequences, posing detrimental social and health effects for migrants, their families and communities. Migrants often face obstacles to health due to access, discrimination, language and cultural barriers, legal status, economic difficulties, social isolation, and fear of deportation. The process of deportation has become more rapid and frequent in the U.S. with inadequate health information in the literature regarding this relocated population post-deportation. The PROMIS® Global Health Short Form was used to measure the self-reported QOL, physical and mental health of male deportees from the US to Portugal from 2009 to 2013.FindingsTwenty five males aged 28–64 years who had been deported from the US to Portugal participated in the study. Overall, their EuroQol, Global Physical Health and Global Mental Health Scores were below the established tool mean, with self-reported mental health having the lowest score. Age, marital status, length of time in the US prior to deportation, and length of time since deportation may impact the well-being of deportees post deportation.ConclusionsStudy results suggest the deportees in this study were less healthy than the general population. Future research and tailored initiatives regarding the overall health of deportees, with a focus on quality of life and mental health should be conducted to better understand their impact on reintegration. Overall study scores were lower than mean tool scores indicating the need for more research in this vulnerable group to support clinical practice and health policy to improve their overall QOL and health through intervention work.