Nursing Study Abroad: A New Perspective

The impact of International Study Abroad has recently been studied. The data from more than 3,400 respondents shows that studying abroad is usually a defining moment in a person's life and continues to impact their life for years after the experience (IES Abroad Adelaide, 1992). Many nursing programs here in the United States do not have the flexibility in their nursing curriculum for study abroad, and the State Board of Nursing does not allow for nursing courses to be transferred in from other countries. This article will describe a Nursing Study Abroad program that was set up in Ireland for 3 weeks. Nursing students in this 4 year Traditional BSN program were able to obtain 6 credits (3 credits for their English Elective and 3 credits for their Nursing Elective) as well as experience 2 clinical observation days shadowing an Irish Public Health Nurse. A comprehensive description of the nursing study abroad program and the benefits associated with it will be provided.