CARVALHO, Jordana Lopes; BACKES, Dirce Stein; LOMBA, Maria de Lurdes Lopes de Freitas    COLOME, Juliana Silveira. International academic mobility: an education opportunity for future nurses. []. , serIV, 10, pp.59-67. ISSN 0874-0283.  https://doi.org/10.12707/RIV16018.

Background: International academic mobility allows for the exchange of scientific and cultural knowledge, namely on health technologies, the sharing of information and experiences, and the increase of professional opportunities. Objectives: To identify the benefits of international academic mobility for nursing education from the students' perspective. Methodology: We conducted an exploratory-descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, with a sample of 17 students who had participated in international mobility programs in the Franciscan University Center - Santa Maria/RS/Brazil and in the Nursing School of Coimbra/Portugal. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and then submitted to content analysis. Results: Data analysis resulted in 3 categories: Health in the home country vs. health in the host country - contextualizing professional knowledge and experiences; Academic mobility - possibility for the development of students' autonomy; and Opening horizons - cultural contributions in the process of academic mobility. Conclusion: Academic mobility processes enable the contact with new clinical and research practices, which improves students' education and professional performance as future nurses.

: professional education; international educational exchange; nursing.

        · | |     · |     · ( pdf )