Nursing students' emotions evoked by the first contact with patient's body: A qualitative study. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santo, Letizia Dal; Ambrosi, Elisa; Maragna, Michela; Marognolli, Oliva; Canzan, Federica
• Is Part Of: Nurse education today. Volume 85(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Nursing students -- Nursing education -- Personal care -- Emotions -- Narratives -- Qualitative studies; Nursing -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Education, Nursing -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Nursing -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; 610.7307
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2019.104299
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-6917

Abstract

Abstract: Providing personal care is one of the most significant activities of nursing care. Nursing students, who approach the patient's body for the first time, may experience a wide range of emotions, affecting their attitude toward the nursing profession and performance. Nevertheless, the emotional aspects related to providing personal care in nursing education have remained relatively neglected. A qualitative descriptive study was performed to describe the emotions felt by first-year nursing students when providing personal care and to analyze the situations which triggered their emotions. First-year students (N = 145) were asked to narrate episodes of body care evoking both positive and negative emotions. Emotions were analyzed according to Damasio's theory while trigger situations were inductively found through a content analysis. Our results show that first-year nursing students experienced mostly social emotions, with a significant triggering role played by patients. In most of the narratives, patients were seen as a source of (un)recognition and personal (un)satisfaction. In this pattern, the patients play a fundamental role in supporting their confidence. Providing emotional education and peer discussion/sharing may facilitate the ability of nursing students to become aware of their own feelings and to be focused on patient's needs.