title: Program evaluation of nursing school instruction in measuring students' perceived competence to empathetically communicate with patients.
abstract: The purpose of this survey study was to examine the relationship between senior baccalaureate nursing students' perceptions of their nursing program effectiveness in teaching them to empathetically communicate with patients and family members and perceived competence in empathetic communication. Nursing program components and students' perceived competence were divided into five areas: academic exposure to patient care situations, curricular emphasis during the nursing program, perceived program effectiveness, academic sources, and perceived competence. Outcomes of the regression analysis showed that the primary factors related to perceived competence were academic exposure, curricular emphasis, and program effectiveness. Data from this study reinforce the need for greater attention to be focused on clinical instruction, maximization of faculty input and feedback, and reinforcement of theoretical tenets that are taught academically.
authors.affiliation: Auburn University School of Nursing, Auburn, Alabama, USA. reedreb@auburn.edu
authors.forename: Libba R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shannon
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013338:Students, Nursing