The most recent United Nations statistics indicate that four million people migrated cross culturally in 1984. Studies indicate that cross cultural migration can alter health status (Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, 1979; Stein, 1983). Nurses, therefore, need knowledge about how appropriate care is viewed by migrants from many cultural backgrounds. This study was survey research based on these theories: Dohrenwend & Dohrenwend's--Stressful Life Events; Fabrega's--Behavioral Responses to Migration and Acculturation; and Leininger's--Cultural Care Diversity and Universality. This study's purpose was to examine the relationships between adjustment to cross cultural living, level of health, and perception of culturally appropriate care. A convenience sample was chosen of 50 university students from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South America studying in the United States and 25 United States citizens who had studied in one of the same five areas and had returned home. Each subject completed two instruments: The Community Adaptation Schedule (Roen & Burnes, 1968) and the Cornell Medical Index--Health Questionnaire (Brodman, Erdmann, Wolff, & Miskovitz, 1986). There are reported measures of validity and reliability for both instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t test, Pearson's correlation, and Fisher's Exact Test. Subjects were interviewed using the Leininger Caring Inquiry Form (Leininger, 1982). This form obtains qualitative data which were analyzed by content analysis. Findings showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups on: (1) the measure of adjustment (p =.000) and (2) the frequency of identifying nine care constructs as culturally appropriate (p < .05). For the international students, "being understood" was the significant care construct. There was also a significant correlation between rating care as nonaccommodating to cultural beliefs and scores of adjustment for the international group (p =. 02). Approximately 28% of subjects in both groups had health problems. International students often gained weight and identified themselves as being very sensitive. While living abroad, Americans experienced weight loss and infections. Implications for nurses include the identification of student migrants as an at-risk group for health status alterations. International students also need assistance to adjust to living in America and efforts made to understand them.