title: Semester abroad opportunities in baccalaureate nursing programs.
abstract: An experience of studying abroad enhances undergraduate nursing education by broadening the student's perspective about different cultures, heightening awareness of a global society and foreign customs and traditions, stimulating interest in international work and research, fostering personal development, building skill in a foreign language, and serving as a bridge between theory and practice. Despite a large number of published reports about international experiences for nursing students, little is known about the number of baccalaureate programs that offer a semester abroad or the percent of students who participate. A mailed paper-and-pencil survey was completed by 382 administrators of baccalaureate nursing programs listed in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing database. Eighty-nine schools (23.3%) offer a semester study abroad opportunity. Of those, 39 (44%) offer clinical nursing courses taught by nursing faculty. Most (76%) of the 89 schools reported that only 0%-5% of students participated in the semester abroad program. Despite the small number of baccalaureate programs that offer a semester abroad experience and the small percentage of students who participate, respondents listed a large number and variety of advantages and offered strategies that facilitate their programs. Curricular innovations that allow 17%-26% of juniors in the baccalaureate nursing program at Boston College to study abroad for a semester are elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Read
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014195:Travel