Being the stranger: Comparing study abroad experiences of nursing students in low and high income countries through hermeneutical phenomenology.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the experience of American nursing students who complete a study abroad trip to a low-income country, Bangladesh, versus a high-income country, the Netherlands in the development of cultural consciousness.


METHODS
Hermeneutic (interpretive) phenomenology was used to explore the journals of 44 students' experiences and reflections.


RESULTS
The comprehensive understanding of the naïve and structural analysis revealed that, no matter where these students travelled, they increased their cultural consciousness.


CONCLUSIONS
We need to revise curricula to create 'change from the familiar' experiences for all students (many cannot afford study abroad) to move students to cultural consciousness on their journey to cultural competency that may improve client health outcomes.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, 106 Carrigan Drive, Rowell 208, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Electronic address: Hendrika.Maltby@med.uvm.edu.
Hendrika J
HJ
Maltby
Center for Evidence Based Education, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: joy.devries@amc.uva.nl.
Joy M
JM
de Vries-Erich
Health Sciences, International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Bangladesh. Electronic address: lund.karen1@gmail.com.
Karen
K
Lund
D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000193:education*; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D009426:Netherlands; D012449:Safety; D063507:Sexism; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Cultural competency; Hermeneutical phenomenology; Nursing education; Study abroad