Building a caring client relationship and creating a quilt. A parallel and metaphorical process

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Caring Science
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Caring is central to nursing practice.
• Understanding and applying caring theory can be challenging for nursing students.
• Creative and reflective methods can enhance learning in nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how quilt design can serve as a metaphor for developing a caring relationship.
• To examine the application of caring theory, specifically Jean Watson's carative factors, in nursing practice through a student's experience.
• To understand how aesthetic expression can concretize the concept of caring in nursing.

Main Methods:

• A nursing student engaged in a clinical experience.
• Reflective journaling was used to document the student's understanding of caring.
• A quilt was designed as an aesthetic expression, incorporating symbols representing caring theory and the nursing relationship.

Main Results:

• The quilt design process facilitated the student's understanding and concretization of a caring relationship.
• The quilt's elements, including houses and figures, visually represented Jean Watson's carative factors and the nursing profession's caring essence.
• Quilts, symbolizing comfort and warmth, were found to parallel the core values of nursing.

Conclusions:

• Quilt design offers a unique pedagogical tool for nursing students to grasp abstract caring concepts.
• Integrating creative expression with clinical experience enhances the understanding of caring theory and its practical application.
• This approach provides a tangible way to explore the humanistic and relational aspects of nursing care.