Role-taking skills and perceived similarity in baccalaureate nursing students

The importance of exercising effective role-taking skills as a nursing care provider is described. Twenty-six baccalaureate nursing students provided role-taking responses to four real life events. Students also reported whether or not they had ever experienced similar events and to what degree they perceived themselves as similar to the individuals in the events on a number of personal characteristics. Role taking was compared across the situations. Having experienced a similar life event or perceiving similarity to the main character did not appear to enhance role-taking responses. The results suggest that it may not be necessary to have had a life experience or background similar to that of the client's in order to be perceived as a nurse who is caring and understanding. Implications for nursing students are discussed.