What do nurses do? Student reflections.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Professional Role Development

Background:

• Nursing encompasses both the art of caring and the science of curing.
• Recent emphasis, following the Francis report and the Chief Nursing Officer for England's vision, highlights the centrality of care and compassion in nursing.
• Student nurses enter the profession with idealistic perceptions of their role.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore student nurses' understanding of their professional role.
• To investigate how these perceptions evolve during nursing education and training.
• To analyze the gap between initial beliefs and the realities of nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• An educational evaluative exercise was conducted with adult nursing students.
• Students were asked to define 'What do nurses do?' at different educational stages.
• Qualitative analysis of student responses to understand evolving perceptions.

Main Results:

• Student nurses' conceptions of their role change significantly throughout their education.
• Initial idealistic beliefs are challenged and modified by exposure to academic learning and clinical practice.
• The study identifies key shifts in understanding the balance between caring and curing.

Conclusions:

• Nursing education must address the evolution of student nurses' role perceptions.
• Integrating practical experience with theoretical knowledge is crucial for shaping professional identity.
• Understanding these evolving perceptions can inform curriculum development to better prepare compassionate and competent nurses.