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Understanding Communication Apprehension in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Qualitative Study
Shannon L Schulenberg1, Debora Goldberg, Gary Kreps
1About the Authors Shannon L. Schulenberg, PhD, RN, George Mason University School of Nursing, Fairfax, Virginia. Debora Goldberg, PhD, MHA, MBA, is associate professor, Department of Health Administration and Policy; Gary Kreps, PhD, is a professor, Department of Communication; and Kyeung Mi Oh, PhD, RN, is associate professor, School of Nursing, George Mason University. For more information, contact Dr. Schulenberg at sschulen@gmu.edu or sha.schulenberg@gmail.com .
Communication apprehension (CA) significantly impacts nursing students, causing physical, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms. Understanding these experiences, including language and faculty interactions, is crucial for improving communication education.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Communication Studies
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Communication apprehension (CA) is a significant barrier in healthcare, defined as fear or anxiety in communication.
- Effective communication is a core nursing competency, directly influencing patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the lived experiences of undergraduate nursing students with moderate to high communication apprehension.
- To identify factors contributing to communication apprehension in nursing education.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study employing a phenomenological approach.
- In-depth interviews conducted with 17 undergraduate nursing students experiencing moderate to high CA.
Main Results:
- Identified themes encompassing physical, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms of CA.
- Highlighted the influence of native language, accent, prior communication experiences, and faculty interactions (caring/uncaring behaviors) on student CA.
Conclusions:
- Findings provide insights into the multifaceted nature of CA in nursing students.
- Results can inform nurse educators on recognizing CA symptoms and designing targeted communication training interventions.
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