An interpretive qualitative study of baccalaureate nursing students following an eight-day international cultural experience in Tanzania

Intercultural competence through study abroad is widely recognized as a preferred teaching approach for the development of globally competent health care practitioners. Colleges and universities are looking for multiple ways to encourage students to study abroad because of the noteworthy effects that these experiential opportunities have on students. Sparse research has been conducted to determine if short-term study abroad trips of less than two weeks are achieving these same outcomes. The purpose of this basic interpretative qualitative study was to describe the nature and meanings of a short-term international cultural experience for nursing students, and whether or how their understanding of the role of the professional nurse was changed. A group of baccalaureate nursing students traveled to Tanzania and took part in professional and social opportunities over an 8-day period. All participants were required to complete a nursing course with global objectives prior to the trip and pre-immersion seminars. Data were collected from reflective journals during the study abroad experience, focus group discussions one month after returning home, and personal interviews 6 months later. The results indicated that the participants experienced culture shock, but they also gained in self-awareness, cultural empathy, leadership skills, a desire to learn more, and a new perspective of the role of the professional nurse. Langer’s theory of Mindfulness, Bennett’s Developmental Model of Sensitivity and Campinha-Bacote’s Process of Cultural Competence provided the theoretical framework for this study.

Name thesis:degree_name

PHD

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

Kent State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Ferranto, Mary Lou Gemma

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rishel, Teresa
• Cushner, Kenneth

• Health Sciences
• Health Education
• Multicultural Education
• Nursing
• Education
• Short-term study abroad
• Cultural humility
• Intercultural competence
• International study
• Transcultural nursing
• Cultural competence
• Sojourn
• Mindfulness
• Qualitative study

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1364365375

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:kent1364365375