“An Indescribable Experience: ” Nursing Students Studying and Serving Abroad

“Study abroad” is a common term among college students. According to Open Doors annual report as published by the Institute of International Education (2019), one in ten students seeking a bachelor’s or associate’s degree will study abroad before they graduate. Additionally, 16% of students earning a bachelor’s degree in the United States (US) will study abroad in their undergraduate years. Students in major fields of study, such as business and social sciences, are most likely to study abroad. However, only 6.9% of health professions majors studied abroad in the 2017-2018 academic year (Institute of International Education, 2019). This study provides insight into how a study abroad program in Peru impacts nursing students’ perceptions and attitudes of intercultural interactions, which are fundamental in expanding and developing cultural competency. This study also demonstrates how the abroad experience with service learning could affect nursing practice.