Foreign nursing students in the USA: problems in their educational experiences.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• International Student Adaptation
• Higher Education

Background:

• Growing enrollment of international nursing students in U.S. universities.
• Limited research on the specific challenges faced by these students.
• Need to understand adaptation mechanisms for foreign nursing students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify difficulties encountered by foreign nursing students in U.S. university nursing programs.
• To evaluate factors facilitating their adaptation.
• To propose recommendations for enhancing their educational experience.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative study utilizing 82 completed questionnaires.
• Data collected from foreign nursing students nationwide.
• Analysis of reported challenges and facilitators.

Main Results:

• Key difficulties include language barriers, faculty cultural unfamiliarity, program pace, and insufficient clinical experience.
• Highly competitive academic environments pose significant challenges.
• Students experience difficulties in adjusting to the overall educational system.

Conclusions:

• Foreign nursing students face multifaceted challenges in U.S. nursing programs.
• Recommendations are proposed to improve support systems and program structures.
• Enhancing cultural competence and support services can improve student outcomes.