Learning compassionate care: Experiences of nursing students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Compassion is vital in nursing, yet a lack of it is reported among students and junior nurses.
• Empirical data on nursing students' compassionate care experiences are limited.
• Clinical settings significantly shape nursing students' development of compassion competencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore baccalaureate nursing students' experiences in developing compassionate care competencies.
• To identify factors influencing the cultivation of compassionate care during clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative study design was utilized.
• Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with baccalaureate nursing students.
• Thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes from the interview data.

Main Results:

• Positive themes included gaining patient acceptance, motivation for professional growth, and establishing emotional bonds.
• Negative themes identified barriers such as distrust, fear of violence, and heavy workloads.
• Student experiences highlight both facilitators and impediments to compassionate care.

Conclusions:

• Hospital and nursing administrators must cultivate positive practice environments to support compassionate care.
• Nursing instructors should serve as role models to foster the development of compassion in students.
• Addressing barriers like workload and safety concerns is crucial for enhancing compassionate nursing care.