Understanding Communication Apprehension in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Qualitative Study

Abstract AIM The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of communication apprehension (CA) in undergraduate nursing students. BACKGROUND CA is the fear or anxiety elicited by communication encounters, either real or anticipated. Communication is a critical competency for nursing students and impacts patient outcomes and patient satisfaction. METHOD A phenomenological approach was utilized to understand the lived experience of moderate to high CA in 17 undergraduate nursing students. RESULTS Themes that emerged from interviews included the physical, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms experienced by participating students and the influences of their native spoken language and accent, their past communication experiences, and the caring and uncaring behaviors of faculty with regard to their CA. CONCLUSION Results of this study can inform nurse educators of the symptoms of CA in students and can be used to influence the design of communication education.