Intended and actual outcomes of study abroad programs: nursing students' experiences

Abstract

Background: Many nursing students participate in study abroad opportunities; yet, few studies explore their experiences. Given the increasing emphasis on evaluating the quality of higher education internationalization, this study explored the motivations for, and outcomes of, Maltese nursing students’ Erasmus+ exchanges against the program’s intended outcomes. Method: Sixty-five Erasmus+ mobility participants completed an online questionnaire (response rate = 44.8%), and 16 participated in a 2-hour focus group. Results: Participants overwhelmingly agreed that intended outcomes of the Erasmus+ program were achieved. Thematic analysis revealed five themes: Enhanced Employability as a Nurse; Exposure to Nursing Beyond the National Shores; Personal Growth; Context-Sensitivity of Nursing Care Delivery; Language and Citizenship. Conclusion: These positive experiences confirm that nurse educators should continue encouraging and facilitating study abroad experiences, and that such opportunities should be offered to even more students. However, more research is required to explore any negative outcomes of student mobility and whether the participants’ perceptions change over time. [J Nurs Educ. 2020;59(9):501-505.]