Study abroad programs: Creating awareness of and changing attitudes to nursing, health and ways of living in other cultures

Abstract

Multicultural society requires nurses to care for individuals and families with different cultural and religious values to their own. Study abroad programs for nursing students enable the students to be exposed to nursing, health and ways of living in other cultures. Students undertook a program at Chiang Mai University, Thailand through an international university linkage arrangement during 1997. Student concerns, expectations and perceived benefits of study abroad experiences were investigated in this non-experimental descriptive study, which involved a serial interview process incorporating three interviews before, during and after the program. Students undertaking the program acknowledged that they gained increased confidence and an understanding of different cultures. It was concluded that students did develop an increased awareness of and experienced attitudinal changes towards the cultures and health care needs of the country visited.

Immersion research education: students as catalysts in international collaboration research

“…The opportunities offered by the MHIRT experience lead students to value research and make them proud of their research accomplishments. Consistent with other study abroad program reports (Rolis et al. 1997; Ruddock & Turner 2007), MHIRT students state that their self‐perception and self‐confidence have been reshaped.…”

Comparing health care delivery systems - initiating a student exchange project between Europe and the United States

“…There is little data on the impact of international exchange programs on medical students’ awareness of other cultures and attitudes to their profession. In contrast, in nursing education the value of international study programmes has been carefully evaluated and documented 6,7 …”

“…In contrast, in nursing education the value of international study programmes has been carefully evaluated and documented. 6,7 Our common interest in curricular reform at all six participating medical schools was a key factor facilita- ting the decision to initiate the project. Preliminary evaluation data suggests that there is a clear need to integrate the interdisciplinary study of HCDS into our curricula.…”

Short of Transformation: American ADN Students' Thoughts, Feelings, and Experiences of Studying Abroad in a Low-Income Country

“…Studying abroad has been linked to increasing cultural awareness, sensitivity, and competence of nursing students in BSN programs (Callister & Cox, 2006;Drake, 2004;Evanson & Zust, 2006: Genz, 2007Haloburdo & Thompson, 1998;Inglis, Rolls, & Kristy, 2000;Koskinen & Tossavainen, 2003;Koskinen & Tossavainen, 2004;Lee, Pang, Wong, & Chan 2007;Rolls, Inglis, & Kristy, 1997;St. Clair & McKenry, 1999;Tateyama, 2002;White, 2008).…”