Internationalization at home program significantly increases the self-efficacy of nursing students: A pre-post study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Higher Education Pedagogy
• Student Self-Efficacy

Background:

• Internationalization at home strategies aim for inclusive higher education.
• Evidence on the impact of these strategies on nursing students' self-efficacy is limited.
• The Global Nursing Care program integrated virtual exchange and international clinical simulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the Global Nursing Care program's effect on nursing students' self-efficacy.
• To evaluate the impact of an internationalization at home initiative on psychological constructs essential for nursing students.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, longitudinal study design was employed.
• Seventy nursing students participated, with 57 completing pre- and post-intervention online surveys.
• The General Self-efficacy Scale and sociodemographic data were analyzed using SPSS.

Main Results:

• General self-efficacy significantly increased post-program participation (p < 0.001).
• No significant differences in self-efficacy changes were observed based on nationality, prior international experience, or academic year.
• The program demonstrated a positive impact on students' psychological well-being and performance indicators.

Conclusions:

• Internationalization at home programs, combining virtual exchange and simulation, effectively enhance nursing students' general self-efficacy.
• This approach offers a valuable strategy for improving nursing education outcomes.
• Further research is recommended to explore the long-term persistence of these self-efficacy gains.