{"title":"Promoting reflective learning during clinical internship through narrative workshops: A quasi-experimental study in Italian nursing students","authors":"Eleonora Zanella PhD, MSc, RN,, Paola Arcadi PhD, MSc, RN, Alessia Sorrenti MSc, RN, Claudia Cafiero MSc, RN, Maura Lusignani MSc, RN, Stefano Terzoni PhD, MSc, RN","doi":"10.1016/j.teln.2026.07.007","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Relational competencies—emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness—are essential in nursing yet difficult to cultivate during emotionally intense clinical training. Health Humanities and Narrative Medicine are educational approaches that integrate arts and storytelling to interpret illness experiences and use narrative tools (e.g., writing, images, film) to foster reflection, empathy, and holistic, patient-centered care grounded in patients’ lived experience.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study examined the effectiveness of structured narrative workshops—reflective writing and close reading—implemented during clinical internships in supporting emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness among undergraduate nursing students.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>We conducted a quasi-experimental pre–post study with first-year nursing students from four campuses of the University of Milan, assigned to an intervention group (<em>n</em> = 19) or control group (<em>n</em> = 16). The intervention included two workshops using reflective writing and close reading to re-elaborate clinical experiences. Emotional intelligence (Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test), mindful awareness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), and empathy (Jefferson Scale of Empathy) were measured at baseline and postintervention and analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with bootstrap resampling.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Thirty-five students participated. Significant group × time interactions were observed for emotional intelligence (<em>P</em> < .0001) and mindful awareness (<em>P</em> = .0005), with greater improvement in the intervention group. No significant effect was found for empathy.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Structured narrative practices may support emotional intelligence and reflective awareness during clinical training, strengthening the relational dimension of nursing education. Reflective workshops may represent a practical educational strategy to help students process clinical experiences at emotional and relational levels. Further research integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches is needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46287,"journal":{"name":"Teaching and Learning in Nursing","volume":"21 4","pages":"Pages e1698-e1704"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Teaching and Learning in Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1557308726002106","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/8/8 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
Relational competencies—emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness—are essential in nursing yet difficult to cultivate during emotionally intense clinical training. Health Humanities and Narrative Medicine are educational approaches that integrate arts and storytelling to interpret illness experiences and use narrative tools (e.g., writing, images, film) to foster reflection, empathy, and holistic, patient-centered care grounded in patients’ lived experience.
Objectives
This study examined the effectiveness of structured narrative workshops—reflective writing and close reading—implemented during clinical internships in supporting emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness among undergraduate nursing students.
Method
We conducted a quasi-experimental pre–post study with first-year nursing students from four campuses of the University of Milan, assigned to an intervention group (n = 19) or control group (n = 16). The intervention included two workshops using reflective writing and close reading to re-elaborate clinical experiences. Emotional intelligence (Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test), mindful awareness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), and empathy (Jefferson Scale of Empathy) were measured at baseline and postintervention and analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with bootstrap resampling.
Results
Thirty-five students participated. Significant group × time interactions were observed for emotional intelligence (P < .0001) and mindful awareness (P = .0005), with greater improvement in the intervention group. No significant effect was found for empathy.
Conclusions
Structured narrative practices may support emotional intelligence and reflective awareness during clinical training, strengthening the relational dimension of nursing education. Reflective workshops may represent a practical educational strategy to help students process clinical experiences at emotional and relational levels. Further research integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches is needed.
期刊介绍:
Teaching and Learning in Nursing is the Official Journal of the National Organization of Associate Degree Nursing. The journal is dedicated to the advancement of Associate Degree Nursing education and practice, and promotes collaboration in charting the future of health care education and delivery. Topics include: - Managing Different Learning Styles - New Faculty Mentoring - Legal Issues - Research - Legislative Issues - Instructional Design Strategies - Leadership, Management Roles - Unique Funding for Programs and Faculty