Intergenerational Narrative Learning to Bridge the Generation Gap in Humanistic Care Nursing Education

The development of nursing students' ability to practice humanistic care is extremely important.

This study explored students' learning experience when providing humanistic care for older adults with chronic diseases while employing intergenerational narrative learning. An exploratory descriptive qualitative study design was adopted.

We analyzed evaluations from 35 students who completed the course, in which intergenerational narrative learning was employed. Evaluations contained open-ended questions that asked students to reflect upon their experiences and describe their perceptions, thoughts, and feelings after the course. Three main themes were revealed by thematic analysis: direct interaction supersedes knowledge in books, the framework for improving humanistic caring, and internalization of the importance of humanistic care in nursing.

An awareness of patients' perspectives inspired the students in their development toward a more profound caring attitude. The intergenerational narrative learning teaching strategy could foster professional and humanistic-centered care in nursing students.