Study Overseas

Not surprisingly, nursing and health care are becoming more complex in response to current changes in society. Similarly, as patients' expectations of health and the provision of care increase, nursing is becoming more research-oriented. Thus, the concept of androgogy, or life-long learning, becomes crucial if care is to be appropriate as well as effective. Although the care provided by nurses invariably depends on the individuals involved as well as the social and cultural context, that care is only likely to be made more relevant by the wider-ranging post-graduate education of the provider.

Investment in nursing education is immense in both organisational as well as personal terms. The decision about the educational experience and its setting is crucially important to the person who is being educated, as well as to the colleagues and population with whom that nurse is working. The information about post-graduate opportunities is easily available through the Internet, as well as through more traditional channels. There are, however, a number of questions that the intending nurse should have in mind when considering which country and which course would be the most beneficial.

Health Studies and Nursing Courses

If a student is taking a course in a country other than their own, that student is most likely to seek study on a full-time basis. The issue of whether the course is also undertaken by part-time students, however, is still of interest to this person. If a course is available to part-time students, there is likely to be a greater heterogeneity among the nurses who are on the course. Such a mix of students not only improves the likelihood of social interaction, it also means that students' nursing backgrounds will be more varied and the learning opportunities will be enhanced.

In a more academic sense, the institution offering the course should be scrutinised. The research activity of the teaching staff or faculty members indicates the extent to which they are leaders in their field of nursing knowledge. This research activity is easily accessible through publications in authoritative nursing journals, which may be viewed directly or accessed through suitable nursing databases such as CINAHL, BIDS, or Medline.

How to Choose the Right Course for You

While a student is likely to take a course at one institution, that student may benefit from the presence of other educational institutions in the vicinity, as local people will be accustomed to, aware of and keen to meet the needs of the visiting student. Their presence will also offer social and informal educational events, such as seminars and conferences, to which a range of students who are nurses would be welcomed. While studying at a recently established institution carries some advantages, the nurse who is thinking of applying for post-graduate study should consider whether an institution and the courses offered have worked through all of their 'teething troubles', which may affect the quality of the learning experience.

The person who is contemplating applying should also decide whether the broad orientation of the institution is likely to meet or be well-aligned with their own view of nursing and health care. For example, a nurse who is employed in a management capacity is likely to seek a place in an institution where courses relevant to management are available. Equally, the person whose interest is in the social aspects of health would seek to study at an institution with a social science orientation. In the same way, someone studying in another country would seek to ascertain, if not the international application of courses, at least their relevance to overseas settings.

A factor, the importance of which should never be underestimated, is the value of a personal recommendation of a course. If a nurse colleague has taken a course and is prepared to discuss its strengths, as well as any shortcomings, this is a chance that should be grasped. In this way, the application would be founded on more direct knowledge of the course's local relevance.

For the nurse who is contemplating post-graduate study in another country, the choice is wide to the point of bewildering. Choices apply not only to taught courses and research degrees, but also the institutions that offer them. The information to assist the search for a suitable course of study is available from traditional as well as more innovative sources. Invariably, though, the staff or faculty who organise courses are keen to share the information about the courses on offer, and to assist the nurse in making a sound decision, which is in the interests of all concerned. Post-graduate advisors are happy to be contacted by letter, phone, fax or email.

Author
Dr. Rosemary Mander
Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing Studies
University of Edinburgh