An international nursing student exchange program: an educational experience that enhanced student cognitive development.

Increased attention to international nursing has lead to the development of study abroad programs for students. Participants in such programs describe the experiences as positive; however, studies of measured impact have not been reported. Student development theory provides an objective perspective from which to assess the level of cognition of undergraduate students and permits assessment of change in students' thinking maturity over time. This study documents the change of senior students' levels of cognition over one academic semester. Results indicate that those who participated in an international student nurse exchange program demonstrated significantly more growth than those who did not. As nursing moves to a global perspective, the author recommends similar evaluation of all such exchange programs.