title: Becoming gold-plated: Chinese nurses studying abroad.
abstract: The purpose of this interpretive study is to describe the experience of Chinese nurses studying abroad. Twenty-three nurses living in Taiwan, who had studied in the United States for university degrees, were interviewed in 1990. A central process was "Becoming gold-plated." The first major theme was "Enormous pressure and sacrifice," with the subthemes of "Self-doubt," "Language difficulties," "Isolation and loneliness," and "Separation and guilt." The second major theme was "Transformed self," with subthemes of "High aspiration" and "New perspective on life." In spite of the hardships of study abroad, Chinese nurses felt pride in their accomplishment and self-respect for the knowledge and sophistication they gained.
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, School of Health and Human Services, Department of Nursing, Durham 03824, USA.
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lethbridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003469:Culture; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013624:Taiwan / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States