Coping and thriving: experiences of cald nursing students in Finland : practice-based thesis

Abstract

This project addresses the specific difficulties that Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) nursing students encounter within the Finnish education and health care system, including linguistic obstacles, acculturative stress, financial burdens, clinical placements difficulties and social isolation. The main purpose of this thesis was to create an evidence-based educational video for CALD nursing students that focuses on improving coping skills in acculturation process during the first year of nursing education. The objective of this project is to identify the challenges and factors that are affecting the mental wellbeing of the CALD nursing students.

The conceptual framework used briefly concepts by constructivist learning theory by Piaget and Vygotsky and Humanistic Theory by Maslow's` stress and coping theory, to open the concept of the social support and well-being of CALD nursing students. Furthermore, the efficacy of educational media in facilitating learning and the acquisition of practical skills was evaluated to substantiate the final product format. This thesis employed a product-orientated research methodology resulting to production of educational video entitled "Coping and Thriving: Experience of CALD Nursing Student in Finland¨. The educational video is evidence and practise-based using research literature and personal student experiences.

In conclusion, the educational video effectively bridges the gap between the theoretical and practical support system at the university and the actual experience of CALD nursing students. The final product is easy to use, inspiring, and informative tool that gives students knowledge about evidence-based and practice -based coping skills and shows them how to receive social and psychological support available at the university. This supports CALD nursing students' mental health in enabling resilience and success academically.