Beyond Borders: Exploring the Clinical Journeys of Multicultural Nursing Students.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the clinical experiences of multicultural nursing students in South Korea.

Methods: Data was extracted from October 2022 to February 2023 through extensive interviews conducted in four sessions with three undergraduates with five months of clinical experience. Participants were three multicultural nursing students at D University who had clinical practice experience, whose parents were Russian or Filipino, and who could speak Korean. Data collection was conducted with interviews and observations, and the study quality was improved by reconfirming the interview content with the participants and seeking expert advice. The analysis method was classified to reflect the process in which the participants found their identity by telling their experiences through the collected stories according to Riessman's narrative inquiry verification criteria.

Results: The extracted stories are presented under the main themes: 'Overcoming differences and moving towards fusion', with four sub-themes: 'My identity felt in the clinical field in Korea', ' Nursing together and the role I found in it', ' Pride in being able to be a role model for foreign students, and 'Future nurses who overcome differences '.

Conclusion: In this study, positive cultural encounters alleviated the participants' fears and changed their identity in their lives. This was an opportunity for the participants to share their stories and understand each other, even though they had difficulties they had not planned in their clinical practice. Future research is suggested to explore the experiences of diverse multicultural nursing students.