Nursing students' perception of caring: a literature review

Aim: Exploring nursing students’ perceptions regarding caring is essential, especially for nursing educators, in order to provide information for planning a curriculum in nursing education. The aim of this literature review was to synthesize the literature regarding nursing students’ perceptions of caring based on the available primary research. Design: A literature review. Methods: Six electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, SCOPUS, Wiley Online Library, and SAGE) were searched. Articles were selected according to PRISMA guidelines. A thematic synthesis framework was applied in this review. Results: Thirteen primary studies were included and synthesized, and seven analytical themes emerged. The analytical themes were: caring as presence, caring as support, caring as professionalism, caring as communication, caring as establishing relationships, and patient well-being as a positive outcome of caring. Conclusion: Caring was perceived variously in this review, and consisted of physical aspects, emotional aspects, and professional aspects, together with obedience to the nursing codes of ethics. Finally, it was felt that being caring to patients should not mean that nurses neglect their own self-care.