Becoming Aware of Compassionate Care through a Patient's Story: Reflections from First Year Nursing Students

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand how faculty could use literature to teach first year nursing students about compassionate care and the role of a nurse. The sample in this study were reflection letters written by first year nursing students to the author of a book, detailing his experiences following a catastrophic motor vehicle accident. Archival data was reviewed and thematic analysis was conducted by the researcher; three major themes emerged. The data was linked to Mezirow’s Transformative Learning theory.  Results of the study show that students’ beliefs about the profession of nursing, the role of a nurse and their own education were transformed, in a positive manner. Additionally, literature as a teaching strategy was effective and beneficial to the students.