Perception of Caring among Nursing students

Abstract

Objective: to describe the conceptualization of care by Nursing students from the 2013-2017 years at the Unidad Académica Multidisciplinara Matamoros (Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Mexico). Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between September and October, 2018 Based on a list of 213 students, a sample of 138 persons was estimated, who were selected through simple random sampling. Sociodemographic variables were analyzed (gender, age), as well as the five Conceptualizations of Caring by Morse, measured with the Assessment Scale of the Meaning of Caring: Human Personal Characteristic, Moral Imperative, Affection, Interpersonal Relationship and Therapeutic Intervention (minimum conceptualization of 9 to a maximum 45 points) Descriptive statistical indexes were conducted, as well as hypothesis contrasting for comparison of means Results: the study included 138 participants (76.1% female; 841% were 21-to-25-year old). The conceptualization with the highest mean score was Care as Therapeutic Intervention (mean (X)= 40.3; standard deviation (SD)= 45), followed by Care as Interpersonal Relationship (X = 39.3; SD= 4.5) and as Personal Characteristic (X= 39.3; SD= 4). The lowest level of agreement was found regarding Care as Moral Imperative (R= 37.8; SD= 4.2) and as Affection (<= 371; SD= 4-3). These differences were statistically significan t(p=0.000). Conclusions: teachers mustreflectabout the education they are offering to future professionals, because they will be the ones to provide good-quality and warm care. In order to offer holistic care and strengthen the profession as a science and an art, those conceptualizations with lower scores should be reinforced: care as Moral Imperative and as Affection.