Abstract
Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify nursing students' perceptions of perioperative patients and, to develop a better clinical teaching strategy for nursing students. Method : The subjects included 70 third-year students. 2 hours of group conferencing was conducted at completion of each nursing practice. Data from the group conference were collected via audio tape and transcribed. Results : A total of 70 patients under nursing student care were studied 70% male and 30% female. The average age was 57.7 years. Students' perceptions of "a patient's interpretation of certain life experience such as surgery" fell into such categories as : [threat][challenge][feeling of guilt][evidence of living][discovery of an unknown world]. Perceptions on "Finding meaning" were divided into[destiny][hurdles in life][recognition of human relations][compensation][turning point in life]. Although a feeling of guilt and compensation seem to be characteristics of Japanese culture, it was difficult for students to be aware of them. Conclusion : It is important for a nursing student to be aware of a feeling of guilt and compensation that perioperative patients experience. It is suggested that it is necessary for nursing teachers and instructors to guide nursing students in making them aware of and sensitive towards patients' feelings.
