Transatlantic collaborations: Baccalaureate nursing students’ experiences of participating in a semester-long study abroad program

AIM The aim of this study was to describe students’ experiences during a 15-week semester involving clinical placement in an Irish university. BACKGROUND Internationalization is promoted and facilitated through study abroad initiatives within nurse education. Collaborations were developed between one university in the United States, an Irish university, and service partners. This study abroad initiative involved planning logistics, curriculum learning opportunities, and negotiating clinical placement in meeting state professional requirements. METHOD A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Following ethical approval, 19 fourth-year students participated in focus group and individual semi-structured interviews. Data analysis followed a thematic approach. RESULTS Connecting our worlds details a process of acclimatizing, navigating learning, and using person-centered practices, illustrating meaningful learning in a journey of personal and professional development. CONCLUSION Moving beyond the rhetoric of globalization is critical in future proofing initiatives in developing nursing practitioners while balancing potential safety risks in a post-COVID-19 era