Internalizing the concept of caring: an examination of student perceptions when nurses share their stories.

Caring should be incorporated in the curriculum and the focus of nursing education. However, measurement of nurses' perceptions of caring abilities remains an area that is not well explored. This pilot study explored nursing students' perceptions of caring and their ability to form caring relationships with clients after hearing clinical nurses discuss their own caring experiences. Fourteen nursing students met with three clinical nurses who shared their stories about caring practice. Results indicate that although there was no statistically significant change, the mean score for caring efficacy was increased postintervention. Student comments also reflect that sharing stories about caring was beneficial, valued, and potentially an effective teaching strategy to help students internalize the concept of caring.