title: Nursing keypal exchange: an effective acculturation strategy to prepare for an international experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to provide arguments for incorporating keypal exchanges prior to an international exchange.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  At Rotterdam University of Applied Science in the Netherlands, the Master's in Advanced Nursing Practice Program/Nurse Practitioner Program focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner and places emphasis on internationalization within the curriculum. The students must complete a short-term immersion experience to the USA during the 2-year programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An effective teaching strategy to acculturate students to the American culture, healthcare and nursing system differences was utilized by incorporating keypal communication within the international preparation programme.
authors.affiliation: Rotterdam University of Applied Science, Institute of Healthcare, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. l.maas@hro.nl
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maas-Garcia
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019985:Benchmarking; D003142:Communication; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods; D003479:Curriculum; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D038622:Internationality; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D019303:Multilingualism; D009426:Netherlands; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000193:education*