Phenomenological Case Study on the Experience of North Korean Defector Male Student’s Nursing Education in Korea

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the meaning of a North Korean defector male student s nursing education in Korea. Methods: In this phenomenological case study, data were collected through an in-depth interview with one North Korean defector male student regarding his nursing education in Korea from March 10 to 24, 2021. The first and second interviews lasted 150 and 90 minutes, respectively. The participant was a male in his early 30s who fled North Korea eight years ago. He entered the Korean nursing college in 2018 and is currently enrolled in the 4th year of the department of nursing. Results: Five theme clusters emerged from the data: 1) a young man who crossed the river of hope, 2) a new start as a male student at a nursing college in Korea, 3) always alone in school, 4) struggling for dreams, and 5) hope found in Korea. Conclusion: The male refugee student found it difficult to live and chose to escape from North Korea, searching for hope. The defector male nursing student was always alone at school due to the difficulty of speaking and interpersonal relationships but was a great male nurse who struggled with a dream to cultivate.