Nursing as a Calling: Using the Pedagogy of Reflection While on Mission

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Global Health
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• The importance of experiential learning in nursing education.
• The role of mission trips in shaping healthcare professionals' perspectives.
• Fostering cultural competence and global citizenship in future nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of reflective pedagogy on undergraduate nursing students during an international mission trip.
• To understand how self-reflection influences students' views on nursing and cultural diversity.
• To examine the development of global citizenship among nursing students in a cross-cultural healthcare setting.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research design.
• Utilizing the pedagogy of reflection for guided self-reflection and critique.
• Data collection through student reflections during a mission trip to South India.

Main Results:

• Students experienced a dichotomy of emotions, leading to personal and professional growth.
• Nursing was increasingly viewed as a calling rather than just a profession.
• Students developed a greater appreciation for cultural diversity and identified as global citizens.

Conclusions:

• Reflective pedagogy is effective in enhancing nursing students' professional identity and global perspective.
• International mission experiences, coupled with reflection, are valuable for nursing education.
• The study highlights the transformative potential of experiential learning in cultivating culturally competent and globally-minded nurses.