Coping: "This Is More Than a Trip-It Is a Journey"

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• International Health
• Cross-Cultural Psychology

Background:

• Study abroad programs offer valuable opportunities for nursing students to develop cross-cultural skills.
• Short-term international clinical experiences can present challenges related to culture shock.
• Existing preparation for study abroad may not adequately address culture shock management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of undergraduate nursing students with culture shock during a community health clinical experience in Ghana.
• To identify common themes related to coping with culture shock in a study abroad context.
• To inform future program development for international nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive qualitative study analyzing 512 journal entries from four cohorts of undergraduate nursing students.
• Thematic analysis was conducted using Atlas.ti 7 software.
• Bochner's ABC cultural learning response model was used as a framework for theme categorization.

Main Results:

• Positive coping strategies included seeking control, utilizing humor, normalizing experiences, reframing situations, and taking breaks.
• Negative responses to culture shock manifested as venting, frustration, and physical ailments.
• The study identified a lack of formal instruction on coping with culture shock during the program.

Conclusions:

• Student preparation for short-term study abroad programs requires explicit inclusion of culture shock coping strategies.
• Orientation sessions and ongoing debriefing are crucial for equipping students with effective coping mechanisms.
• Integrating cultural adaptation support can enhance the educational and personal outcomes of international nursing experiences.