BRINGING IT HOME: CANADIAN UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENT EXPERIENCES IN UNDER-RESOURCED COUNTRIES

Abstract

International practica offer a unique and in-depth immersion experience for nursing students to learn about diverse healthcare settings, cultures, and ways of living. When students complete practica in under-resourced countries, some of their receptiveness to learn may be impeded when they are faced with circumstances that are vastly different from those in their home country. The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of registered nurses who, as undergraduate students, participated in international practica in under-resourced countries and to inform an understanding of particular conditions and situations students experience while practicing in such countries. Secondary purposes are to explore moral distress related to these experiences and the perceived effects on participants’ current nursing practice. Using narrative inquiry and thematic analysis, this research aimed to validate nursing students’ unique experiences while abroad. Participants were sampled based on their completion of an international practicum in an under-resourced country as an undergraduate nursing student from 2009-2017. Consenting participants took part in two open-ended interviews via Skype where they had the opportunity to tell a story of their experience. The data collected revealed themes of moral distress, personal and professional development, why it was worth it, and threats to preserving international practica for future generations. This study supports the idea that international practica are overall positive experiences for undergraduate nursing students and highlights growth in cultural awareness. The research concludes with recommendations for the provision of future international practica, as well as evidence-based strategies for students and nurses to effectively recognize and manage moral distress.