Undergraduate nursing students' lived experience of health: a phenomenological study

In order to function as promoters of health, nursing students first need to examine their own meaning of health. A phenomenological study was conducted to explore 56 undergraduate nursing students' lived experience of health. Using Van Kaam's (1966) phenomenological methodology, three necessary constituents of health emerged: optimal unfolding, peaceful contentedness, and perpetual vigilance. These necessary constituents were synthesized into a valid description of the total experience of health as perceived by undergraduate nursing students, i.e., the experience of health is basking in peaceful contentedness permeated by optimal unfolding and perpetual vigilance. Implications for both nursing students and faculty are discussed.