Reflective Journaling in Nursing Student Study Abroad Programs: Connecting Experience and Meaning.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Global Health
• Cultural Competency

Background:

• Health professions students increasingly participate in study abroad programs.
• Understanding diverse healthcare experiences is crucial for effective global health practice.
• Bridging experiential learning with theoretical concepts can be challenging for students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and describe a reflective journaling framework.
• To aid nursing and health professions students in understanding study abroad healthcare experiences.
• To foster cultural humility through guided reflection.

Main Methods:

• Development of a theory-based reflective journaling framework.
• Application of the framework within study abroad courses.
• Focus on connecting student observations and experiences to cultural understanding.

Main Results:

• The framework provides structured guidelines for reflection.
• It facilitates the connection between experience and cultural awareness.
• It supports the development of cultural humility.

Conclusions:

• Reflective journaling is a valuable tool for health professions education.
• The framework enhances students' ability to understand diverse healthcare contexts.
• This approach promotes cultural humility in future healthcare professionals.