Recommendations for planning short-term nursing student mission trips

Background: Cultural immersion and service learning are effective pedagogical tools to support the development of cultural competence among nursing students. An international mission trip incorporates these concepts and provides an opportunity for students to broaden their understanding and skills. Problem: A review of the literature demonstrates a significant gap surrounding the process used to successfully plan such a trip. Approach: Within the context of a small private college, data from an exemplar project help to identify protocols for planning a successful short-term international mission trip. Conclusions: An appropriately planned short-term cultural immersion mission trip allows nurse educators and participants to achieve their personal and educational goals for the trip, while providing much-needed healthcare aid to residents and staff in impoverished and underserved areas.