title: Going alone: the lived experience of female Arab-Muslim nursing students living and studying in the United States.
abstract: Since 2004, international student enrollment in the United States has increased. Middle Eastern students studying in the United States have been part of the increase. In 2008-2009 there were 29 140 Middle Eastern students, representing an 18% increase from the previous academic year. Despite these increases, there is limited research examining the experience of Arab-Muslim international students or international nursing students studying in the United States. Phenomenological inquiry was used to describe the experience of 12 female Omani nurses living in the United States while studying for their baccalaureate degrees in nursing. The women described the experience of going alone and being away from the support and presence of their large, extended families; this influenced their international student experience. They also described their religious, cultural, and educational adaptation. The experience of living and studying nursing in the United States was transformational as they became self-reliant, learned their capabilities, and adapted to cultural and educational expectations.
authors: Villanova University, College of Nursing, Villanova, PA 19312, USA. ruth.mcdermott-levy@villanova.edu
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: McDermott-Levy
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology*; D008016:Life Change Events; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009850:Oman / Q000208:ethnology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States