Date of Completion

3-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Keywords

empathy

Abstract

This study used the descriptive qualitative design. Fourteen (14) participants were asked, “As a student nurse, what is empathy for you?" The interview was recorded using an audio recorder and transcribed verbatim. Data was analyzed using Collaizzi's method. Four (4) themes were identified. The first theme “Empathy Defined” talks about the meaning of empathy as a whole and its importance in the medical field. The second theme “Empathy Learned” discusses the importance of parents and loved ones in instilling empathy within their children. The third theme "The Decline" focuses on the decline of empathy. The fourth theme "The Building Up" discusses how student nurses gave deeper meaning to empathy despite all the struggles they faced which contributed to the decline of their empathetic level. The study concluded that having empathy is very important in the nursing profession. Data gathered from the participants involved in this study have proven that the meaning of empathy in the eyes of student nurses is somehow still similar to those found on literatures. It is an innate quality. Empathy is indeed important especially when care for one’s clients but there are factors that might hinder student nurses in mastering and applying it to their patients. However, as their years in nursing progressed, student nurse’s empathetic level deepens and that somehow leads to their understanding of how empathy helps in the wellbeing of their patients, especially their emotional and mental wellbeing.

First Advisor

Ma. Jennifer A. Ellema

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