Undergraduate nursing students’ ability to empathize: A qualitative study

Background:Empathy is of great importance in nursing, as it helps us to see and meet the needs of patients and hence to care for patients in an appropriate way. Therefore, it is of great importance that nursing students and nurses develop their ability to empathize.Objective:The study aimed at gaining knowledge on what characterizes undergraduate nursing students’ ability to empathize with patients during their first practice in a nursing home. In addition, the aim of the study was to investigate what nursing students think is important with regard to upholding their ability to empathize with patients in a professional way.Research design:This research has a phenomenological and hermeneutic design, based on qualitative interviews.Participants and research context:A total of 11 undergraduate nursing students participated in interviews during or right after their first practice in a nursing home.Ethical considerations:Norwegian Social Science Data Services approved the study. Participants were informed that...