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

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2013, PHD, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies.
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.
Teresa Rishel (Committee Co-Chair)
Kenneth Cushner (Committee Co-Chair)
Tricia Niesz (Committee Member)
265 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ferranto, M. L. G. (2013). An interpretive qualitative study of baccalaureate nursing students following an eight-day international cultural experience in Tanzania [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1364365375

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ferranto, Mary Lou. An interpretive qualitative study of baccalaureate nursing students following an eight-day international cultural experience in Tanzania. 2013. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1364365375.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ferranto, Mary Lou. "An interpretive qualitative study of baccalaureate nursing students following an eight-day international cultural experience in Tanzania." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1364365375

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)