Home In Real Time: Exploring Nursing Students’ Learning during an International Experience
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

In Real Time: Exploring Nursing Students’ Learning during an International Experience

  • Barbara Afriyie Asenso EMAIL logo , Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham and Barbara Astle
Published/Copyright: October 11, 2013

Abstract

Nursing education has increasingly turned to international learning experiences to educate students who are globally minded and aware of social injustices in local and global communities. To date, research with international learning experiences has focused on the benefits for the students participating, after they have completed the international experience. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how nursing students learn during the international experience. The sample consisted of eight nursing students who enrolled in an international learning experience, and data were collected in “real time” in Zambia. The students were observed during learning activities and were interviewed three times. Three major themes emerged from the thematic analysis: expectations shaped students’ learning, engagement facilitated learning, and critical reflection enhanced learning. Implications are discussed, related to disrupting media representations of Africa that shape students’ expectations, and educational strategies for transformative learning and global citizenship.

References

Ankomah, B. (2008, June). Reporting Africa. New African, 474, 814.Search in Google Scholar

Atime, V. (2008, July 1). Show the world the other side of Africa. New African, 475, 89.Search in Google Scholar

Boakye-Yiadom, B. (2012). Exploring learning experiences ofnursing students during an international experience (Unpublished master’s thesis). Trinity Western University, Langley, BC.Search in Google Scholar

Bengtsson, M., & Ohlsson, B. (2010). The nursing and medical students motivation to attain knowledge. Nurse Education Today, 30(2), 150156. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2009.07.005Search in Google Scholar

Bentley, R., & Ellison, K. (2007). Increasing cultural competence in nursing through international service-learning experiences. Nurse Educator, 32(5), 207211.10.1097/01.NNE.0000289385.14007.b4Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Binding, L., Morck, A., & Moules, N. (2010). Learning to see the other: A vehicle of reflection. Nurse Education Today, 30(6), 591594.10.1016/j.nedt.2009.12.014Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Breitkreuz, K. (2010). In support of global health in the nursing curriculum: A nurse educator’s view from the road less traveled. Dean’s Notes, 31(3), 13.Search in Google Scholar

Browne, A., Varcoe, C., Smye, V., Wong, S., Anderson, J., Lynam, J., … Tan, E. (2009). Cultural safety and the challenges of translating critically-oriented knowledge in practice. Nursing Philosophy, 10(3), 167179.10.1111/j.1466-769X.2009.00406.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Caffrey, R. A., Neander, W., Markle, D., & Stewart, B. (2004). Improving the cultural competence of nursing students: Results of integrating cultural content in the curriculum and an international experience. Journal of Nursing Education, 44(5), 234240.10.3928/01484834-20050501-06Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Chavez, F., Bender, A., Hardie, K., & Gastaldo, D. (2010). Becoming a global citizen through nursing education: Lessons learned in developing evaluation tools. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 7(1), Article 44.10.2202/1548-923X.1974Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Citizenship and Immigration Canada. (2011). Facts and figures 2010-immigrations overview: Permanent and temporary residents. Retrieved from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/facts2010/permanent/index.asp#permanentSearch in Google Scholar

Crigger, N., Brannigan, M., & Baird, M. (2006). Compassionate nursing professionals as good citizens of the world. Advances in Nursing Science, 29(1), 1526.10.1097/00012272-200601000-00003Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Cuellar, N. G., Brennan, A., Vito, K., & de Leon Siantz, M. (2008). Cultural competence in the undergraduate nursing curriculum. Journal of Professional Nursing, 24(3), 143149.10.1016/j.profnurs.2008.01.004Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Fetterman, D. (2010). Ethnography step-by-step (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Search in Google Scholar

Friesen, R. G. (2004). The long term impact of short-term missions on the beliefs, attitudes and behaviours of young adults (Doctoral dissertation). University of South Africa, South Africa. Retrieved from http://uir.unisa.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10500/1890/thesis.pdf?sequence=1Search in Google Scholar

Gregory, D., Harrowing, J., Lee, B., Doolittle, L., & O’Sullivan, P. S. (2010). Pedagogy as influencing nursing students’ essentialized understanding of culture. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 7, 1).10.2202/1548-923X.2025Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Harding, F. (2003). Africa and the moving image: Television,film and video. Journal of African Cultural Studies, 16(1), 6984.10.1080/1369681032000169276Search in Google Scholar

Hart-Wasekeesikaw, F. (2009). Cultural competence and cultural safety in First Nations, Inuit and Métis nursing education: An integrated review of the literature. Retrieved from Canadian Nurses Association website: http://www.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/documents/pdf/publications/Review_of_Literature_e.pdfSearch in Google Scholar

Hoe Harwood, C., Reimer-Kirkham, S., Sawatzky, R., Terblanche, L., & Van Hofwegen, L. (2009). Innovation in community clinical placements: A Canadian survey. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 6(1), 121.10.2202/1548-923X.1860Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Hovey, R., & Craig, R. (2011). Understanding the relational aspects of learning with, from, and about the other. Nursing Philosophy, 12(4), 262270.10.1111/j.1466-769X.2011.00491.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Keane, F. (2004). Trapped in a time-warped narrative. Nieman Reports, 58(3), 810.Search in Google Scholar

Kent-Wilkinson, A., Starr, L., Dumanski, S., Fleck, J., LeFebvre, A., & Child, A. (2010). International nursing student exchange: Rural and remote clinical experience in Australia. Journal of Agromedicine, 15(1), 5865.10.1080/10599240903389672Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Kuehn, A. F., Chircop, A., Downe-Wamboldt, B., Sheppard-LeMoine, D., Wittstock, L., Herbert, R., … Critchley, K. (2011). Evaluating the impact of the North American nursing exchange program on student cultural awareness. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 8(1), 115.10.2202/1548-923X.1919Search in Google Scholar

Larson, K. L., Ott, M., & Miles, J. M. (2010). International cultural immersion: En vivo reflections in cultural competence. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 17(2), 4450.Search in Google Scholar

Levine, M. (2009). Transforming experiences: Nursing education and international immersion programs. Journal of Professional Nursing, 25(3), 156159.10.1016/j.profnurs.2009.01.001Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Li, H., Wang, L., Lin, Y., & Lee, I. (2010). The effect of apeer-mentoring strategy on student nurse stress reduction in clinical practice. International Nursing Review, 58(2), 203210.10.1111/j.1466-7657.2010.00839.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Maltby, H. J., & Abrams, S. (2009). Seeing with new eyes: The meaning of an immersion experience in Bangladesh for undergraduate senior nursing students. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 6(1), 33.10.2202/1548-923X.1858Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Mezirow, J. (1997). Transformative learning: Theory to practice. New Directions for Adult & Continuing Education, 1997 (74), 512.10.1002/ace.7401Search in Google Scholar

Mill, J., Astle, B., Ogilvie, L., & Gastaldo, D. (2010). Linking global citizenship, undergraduate nursing education, and professional nursing: Curricular innovation in the 21st century. Advances in Nursing Science, 33(3), E1–E11.10.1097/ANS.0b013e3181eb416fSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Mill, J., Yonge, O., & Cameron, B. (2005). Challenges and opportunities of international clinical practica. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 2(1), Article 18.10.2202/1548-923X.1119Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Orakwue, S. (2001). Africa – the world’s comfort zone. New African, 398, 38.Search in Google Scholar

Onyango-Obbo, C. (2004). Seeking balance in a continent portrayed by its extremes. Nieman Reports, 58(3), 68.Search in Google Scholar

Petit dit Dariel, O. (2009). Nursing education: In pursuit of cosmopolitanism. Nurse Education Today, 29(5), 5669.10.1016/j.nedt.2009.03.015Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Pretorius, L., & Small, L. (2007). Trans-cultural nursing: Exploring the experiences of international students visiting Namibia. Health SA Gesondheid, 12(1), 1220.10.4102/hsag.v12i1.239Search in Google Scholar

Reimer-Kirkham, S., Van Hofwegen, L., & Hoe Harwood, C. (2005). Narratives of social justice: Learning in innovative clinical placements. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 2(1), Article 28.10.2202/1548-923X.1166Search in Google Scholar

Reimer-Kirkham, S., Van Hofwegen, L., & Prankantz, D. (2009). Keeping the vision: Sustaining social consciousness with nursing students following international experiences. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 6(1), Article 3.10.2202/1548-923X.1635Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Rothmyer, K. (2011). Hiding the real Africa. Columbia Journalism Review, 49(6), 1820.Search in Google Scholar

Ruddock, H. C., & Turner, d. S. (2007). Developing culturalsensitivity: Nursing students’ experiences of a studyabroad programme. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 59(4), 361369.10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04312.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Smith-Miller, C. A., Leak, A., Harlan, C. A., Dieckmann, J., Sherwood, G. (2010). Leaving the comfort of familiar: Fostering workplace cultural awareness through global experiences. Nursing Forum, 45(1), 1928.10.1111/j.1744-6198.2009.00163.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Statistics Canada. (2012). 2011 census: Population and dwelling counts. Retrieved from Statistics Canada website: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/120208/dq120208a-eng.htmSearch in Google Scholar

Streubert, H. J., & Rinaldi Carpenter, D. (2011). Qualitative research in nursing: Advancing the humanistic imperative (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.Search in Google Scholar

Tschudin, V., & Davis, A. J. (2008). The globalisation of nursing. Oxon: Radcliffe Publishing.Search in Google Scholar

Varcoe, C., & McCormick, J. (2007). Racing around the classroom margins: Race, racism, and teaching nursing. In L. E.Young & B. L.Paterson (Eds.), Teaching nursing: Developing a student-centered learning environment (pp. 437465). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.Search in Google Scholar

World Health Organization. (2011). Health topics: Globalization. Retrieved from World Health Organization website: http://www.who.int/topics/globalization/en/Search in Google Scholar

Published Online: 2013-10-11

©2013 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin / Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Masthead
  2. Masthead
  3. Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety in Canadian Schools of Nursing: A Mixed Methods Study
  4. Education Reforms in Nigeria: How Responsive is the Nursing Profession?
  5. Writing History: Case Study of the University of Victoria School of Nursing
  6. Fear and Loathing: Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Experiences of a Mandatory Course in Applied Statistics
  7. How does the Nurse Educator Measure Caring?
  8. Psychometric Properties of the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric
  9. Arts-Based Learning: Analysis of the Concept for Nursing Education
  10. Critical Service Learning in Community Health Nursing: Enhancing Access to Cardiac Health Screening
  11. Collaborative Learning Using Nursing Student Dyads in the Clinical Setting
  12. The Effect of Social Contingencies on Nursing Students’ Reactions During a Rural Clinical Placement
  13. Voices of Innovation: Building a Model for Curriculum Transformation
  14. Bridging the Gap: Clinical Practice Nursing and the Effect of Role Strain on Successful Role Transition and Intent to Stay in Academia
  15. Resisting, Reaching Out and Re-imagining to Independence: LPN’s Transitioning towards BNs and Beyond
  16. Exploring the Issue of Failure to Fail in a Nursing Program
  17. Inclusive Mosaic: Promoting Diversity in Nursing through Youth Mentorship
  18. Interactive Learning Research: Application of Cognitive Load Theory to Nursing Education
  19. The Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge for Nursing Curriculum
  20. The Value of Community-Focused Interprofessional Care in Peru for Developing Cultural Competency in Health Professions Students
  21. Female Arab-Muslim Nursing Students’ Reentry Transitions
  22. High Fidelity Simulation Effectiveness in Nursing Students’ Transfer of Learning
  23. Communities of Practice in Nursing Academia: A Growing Need to Practice What We Teach
  24. Nurse Educators’ Perspectives on Student Development of Reflection for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice
  25. The Emerging Doctor of Education (EdD) in Instructional Leadership for Nurse Educators
  26. Five Years Later: Are Accelerated, Second-Degree Program Graduates Still in the Workforce?
  27. Knowledge and Perceptions of HIV/AIDS among Cameroonian Nursing Students
  28. Educating Nurses for the Twenty-First Century Abilities-Based Outcomes and Assessing Student Learning in the Context of Democratic Professionalism
  29. In Real Time: Exploring Nursing Students’ Learning during an International Experience
  30. Educating DNP Students about Critical Appraisal and Knowledge Translation
  31. 5-Years Later – Have Faculty Integrated Medical Genetics into Nurse Practitioner Curriculum?
  32. Stress, Depression, and Anxiety among Undergraduate Nursing Students
  33. Knowing Self and Caring Through Service Learning
  34. Teaching Experiences of Second Degree Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Faculty
  35. Reading Ella: Using Literary Patients to Enhance Nursing Students’ Reflective Thinking in the Classroom
  36. Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Students Use of Emotional Intelligence in Nursing as “Caring for a Human Being”: A Mixed Methods Grounded Theory Study
  37. Effective Classroom Teaching Methods: A Critical Incident Technique from Millennial Nursing Students’ Perspective
  38. Simulation Education Approaches to Enhance Collaborative Healthcare: A Best Practices Review
  39. Erratum to 5-Years Later – Have Faculty Integrated Medical Genetics into Nurse Practitioner Curriculum?
Downloaded on 8.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/ijnes-2012-0045/html
Scroll to top button