International Internship Collaborations: Rwandan Nephrology Graduate Nurses Describe Their Experiences Abroad

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Global Health
• Nephrology Nursing

Background:

• International internships offer graduate nurses significant benefits, including bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
• However, these experiences in culturally diverse settings also present unique challenges for professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of nephrology graduate master's nurses from the University of Rwanda during international clinical training.
• Investigated clinical training in advanced settings across Asia and Africa.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research design utilizing semi-structured interviews.
• Nine nephrology graduate nurses who completed international internships in India and Kenya were interviewed.
• Content analysis was applied to interpret the textual data.

Main Results:

• Four emergent themes: Inter-professional collegiality, Cross-cultural adaptation, Internship challenges, and becoming a Change agent upon return.
• Participants reported numerous positive learning experiences alongside identifiable challenges.
• The training successfully bridged the theory-practice gap, enhancing nurses' global perspectives.

Conclusions:

• International internships provide invaluable learning experiences for graduate nurses, despite inherent challenges.
• Addressing internship challenges can optimize future global training opportunities.
• These experiences foster professional growth and cultivate a sense of global citizenship among nurses.