Whose Responsibility is Care? Nursing Students' Perceptions in Clinical Practice: A Phenomenological Study

BackgroundThis study explored nursing students' lived experiences and perceptions of caregiving practices and the distribution of caregiving responsibilities in clinical settings within the context of holistic nursing.MethodsA qualitative study using an interpretive phenomenological approach was conducted. Data were collected between March and June 2026 through semi-structured interviews with 24 nursing students with clinical experience. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.ResultsCaregiving was often deprioritized, fragmented, and delegated to students. Clinical environments were described as task-oriented and constrained by workload and bureaucratic demands, limiting holistic and relational care. Students perceived caregiving primarily as an individual moral responsibility rather than a structured professional obligation. Limited role modeling and supervision reinforced this pattern.ConclusionA gap exists between holistic care values in education and clinical practice. The marginalization of caregiving threatens the relational and humanistic foundations of nursing. Strengthening care-focused environments, role modeling, and support for holistic care is essential to sustain core nursing values.