International nursing students and clinical learning environments: A convergent mixed-methods study

Aim: To acquire a comprehensive understanding of the international nursing students' clinical learning environments, comparing and contrasting qualitative and quantitative insights.

Background: The influx of international nursing students has increased in Italy and across Europe. These students, diverse in culture and language, encounter significant challenges to their education in clinical learning environments.

Design: convergent mixed-methods research.

Methods: Qualitative and quantitative data were collected concurrently and independently, with equal emphasis, following a QUAL-QUANT structure. Qualitative analysis used descriptive content analysis, while quantitative data were based on descriptive and correlation analyses on surveys using the CALD scale.

Results: Overall 96 international nursing students participated in 24 focus groups. The CALD scale mean scores ranged from 2.7 to 4.5. The qualitative analysis presented two overarching themes: factors that promote a successful clinical learning environment and factors that inhibit a successful clinical learning environment in international students. The integration of qualitative and quantitative data generated four concordant and one discordant meta-inferences about the learning environment.

Conclusions: Culturally sensitive clinical learning environments are imperative for the holistic development of international nursing students. Nurse educators must cultivate transcultural competencies and pedagogical skills to enhance the competencies and skills of this student population effectively.