Coping: “This Is More Than a Trip—It Is a Journey”

Abstract

A 2-week community health clinical experience in Ghana, Africa, provided undergraduate nursing students a study abroad opportunity to expand their cross-cultural skills. Journal entries (N = 512) of four cohorts were analyzed for common themes using Atlas.ti 7 in this descriptive qualitative study. No emphasis was placed on how to cope with cultural shock in Ghana, nor any attempt made to teach effective coping skills during the trips. Bochner’s ABC cultural learning response model provided the framework for grouping themes. Positive coping skills included the need for control, humor, normalizing, and reframing as well as a need for a break and relaxation. Venting, frustration, and physical ailments were coded as negative responses to culture shock. Due to these findings, student preparation for short-term study abroad should include discussions on effective coping with culture shock during orientation sessions and on-going debriefing.