Antecedents to engrossment in Noddings' theory of care.
BACKGROUND
Nel Noddings theorized caring as a universal social process comprised of three phases: engrossment or mental attentiveness, affective engagement or empathy and a mental imperative to act on behalf of another. If Noddings' theory is correct, caring is a learned process.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this research was to understand the process, particularly engrossment, and to facilitate students' development of caring relationships.


METHODS
This qualitative study of 13 baccalaureate nursing students uncovered six antecedents that facilitated student's engrossment and extends Noddings' theory.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research, to deepen and synthesize understanding of antecedents and their influence on facilitating or inhibiting the caring process, is advocated.
Crigger
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School of Nursing, Purdue University, 1337 Johnson Hall, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1337, USA. ncrigger@nursing.purdue.edu
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003463:Cues; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004644:Emotions; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011385:Projection