'It Was Difficult to Understand the System': Developing a Coordinator Role to Support International Nursing Students--A Qualitative Study

Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education. 3107 B Hampton Highway, Yorktown, VA 23693. e-mail: oic213@lehigh.edu; Web site: https://www.ojed.org/index.php/jcihe/index

Y

12

Foreign Countries; Foreign Students; Barriers; Nursing Education; Nursing Students; Stress Variables; Language Proficiency; Sociocultural Patterns; Social Integration; Student Attitudes; Student Personnel Services; Enrollment Management; Educational Practices; Student Experience; Undergraduate Students; College Freshmen; College Seniors

2151-0393
2151-0407

International students are an important component of the host country and universities bringing economic, social, and community contributions. International students are the most vulnerable students with challenges related to academic expectations, language proficiency, and socio-cultural integration. This study explores the challenges of international students in a Western Australian School of Nursing and Midwifery. An exploratory questionnaire (n=10), three focus groups (n=15) and a quality improvement survey (n=80) informed this study. Four themes emerged: stress in the first weeks, incorrect and/or late enrolments, lack of guidance and support, and system navigation nightmares. Other issues included: accommodation, culture shock, financial concerns, information needs, and peer support. These findings led to the instigation of an international academic coordinator role as a single point of contact and increasing resources within the university faculty provided additional support to the international students.

As Provided

2024

EJ1436726