The Process of Change in Students’ Perceptions of Cancer Patients in a Cancer Nursing Practicum

Abstract

〔Aims〕Clarifying the process of change in students’ perceptions of cancer patients in a cancer nursing practicum and obtaining suggestions for educational support.

〔Methods〕Eleven senior nursing students who took part in a cancer nursing practicum were interviewed semi-structurally by the author. A modified grounded theory approach was used for analysis.

〔Results〕The process of change in students’ perceptions of cancer patients starts with “observing the behavior and speech of the cancer patient” and “the image before training is shaken”.

The perceptions obtained by the students through their experiences with cancer patients enabled the students to “discover the meaning of words and actions” and “achieve a deepening of understanding with empathy” by stimulated “chewing enhancer” from others.

Other results were “a more developed perception of the patient”, “an expansion of perception” and “a growing awareness leading to a new direction in nursing”. Additionally, “confusion about the expanded perceptions of the patients” and “persistence of the students’ previous perceptions of the patients” arose.

〔Conclusions〕Suggested educational support includes stimulating students’ thinking by verbalization of observed speech and behavior in cancer patients and sharing experiences and interactions.