Date of Completion

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Keywords

Intrapersonal Communication, Older Adults

Abstract

This study utilized a qualitative research design specifically phenomenological approach design to understand the experience of nursing students when it comes to intrapersonal communication in caring for older adults. A purposive sampling method was used to select the participants. The researchers utilized one on one interviews with each participant and the researchers asked a grand tour question to collect from the participants to facilitate unstructured interview, by using this approach the researchers gained a deep understanding about the experiences of nursing students on intrapersonal communication. Hence, the researchers were able to gather information related to the study. When data saturation was reached after the eighth respondent, data collection was ended. After each interview, the data were transcribed and was handed out to the participants for validation. For data analysis, Colaizzi’s method was utilized. A total of 67 significant statements were extracted from the data collected from the participants. The researchers extracted phrases or sentences that were relevant to the study and then identified the key themes from each description of the participants. Four themes and four sub-themes were produced from separating significant statements from participants into different themes. The findings of the study concluded that nursing students faced a variety of difficulties when caring for older patients. The interactions with nursing students were influenced by the personalities of the older adult patients, which could have an impact on how care is provided to them. The existence of a positive and significant connection between comfort in nursing students and their personalities toward older adults demonstrated that older adults with the pleasant personality trait were more suitable to interact with nursing students. Nursing students not only have a more positive attitude toward older adults, but they also want to interact and communicate with the patients more effectively. To overcome the difficulties encountered by the nursing students, they use intrapersonal communication in a variety of ways, including mentally preparing themselves before entering the room of the patient, self-reflection, self-awareness, and relaxation techniques. However, there are also challenges encountered when intrapersonal communication was not properly utilized. Most of the participants have difficulties when they are unprepared before interacting with their older adult patients, problems may occur. Communication issues with patients who are older adults or anxiety brought on by a lack of preparedness can be among these challenges. Each participant who was interviewed had unique experience caring for older adult patients. Some people got along well with older adults. Some other participants also encountered challenges when dealing with older adult patients, which put their patience and capabilities to the test. For instance, one participant stated that some older adult patients do not want to be handled by nursing students, instead, they preferred actual nurses to handle them. In order to prevent them from becoming stultified, she keeps her interactions with the older adult patient quick whilst another states that the older adult seems to be giving her life advice. She finds the older adult patient easier to talk to, and that they are easy to get along with because they are more compliant compared to younger adults. An exceptionally-skilled nursing student approach should be established in order to promote a sense of worthiness, self-acceptance, flexibility, and connectedness between older adult patients and nursing students. A statement from one of the participants highlights one of his experiences on clinical duties that he did not know what to do on his first duty which led him to do reckless acts, such as suddenly entering the room of the patient and talked to his patient. Aside from this, he felt nervous and he found it difficult to interact with his patient without the use of intrapersonal communication. The challenges that were encountered due to improper use of intrapersonal communication affects and compromises the health of older adult patients that leads to possible social anxiety to nursing students, low self-esteem, and possible negligence in clinical duties. As the researchers dug deeper into their experiences, these nursing students revealed that they recognize the value of using intrapersonal communication and how it influences their patient interaction. According to some participants, using intrapersonal communication helped them create boundaries, communicate with the older adult patient with confidence, and boost their self- esteem. As stated from a participant, it gives him an opportunity to learn and grow when he is doing self-reflection. Positive outcomes include gaining extra abilities, being able to regulate one’s self prior patient interaction, doing every task swiftly, learning, and being prepared. Nursing students were also able to build methods that led to positive interactions with older adult patients, which led to a broader view on their strategies as well as empathy for older people. They also endeavored to comprehend and assess the requirements of the older adults with whom they were interacting.

First Advisor

Rowena C. Laigo

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