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Asian Journal of Healthy and Science

p-ISSN: 2980-4302

e-ISSN: 2980-4310

Vol. 2 No. 5 May, 2023

CARING CHARACTER BUILDING STRATEGIES FOR NURSING

STUDENTS; OPINION OF HOSPITAL AND NURSING EDUCATION

LEADERS

Jebul Suroso, Sriyanto, Isna Hikmawati

Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia

Email: jebulsuroso.ump@gmail.com

Abstract

Nursing students must be able to build caring character during the learning process.

The caring character of students who have been awakened is very useful in the

nursing service process after becoming a nurse. The problem that exists today is that

there has not been a strong caring character in some nursing students. This will have

a negative impact, namely the low quality of nursing graduates, especially in aspects

of caring behavior. The low caring behavior of nurse graduates can result in low

quality of service and patient satisfaction. This problem needs to be solved

immediately, in the form of a strategy to build caring character for nursing students.

Therefore, it is necessary to explore the right strategy to build the caring character of

nursing students. The purpose of the study was to explore strategies to build caring

characteristics of nursing students. This study used qualitative design. Data was

obtained through structured interviews with 13 leaders of nursing in hospitals, and

leaders of educational institutions. Data analysis using content analysis. The results

of the study obtained three major themes of caring character-building strategies for

nursing students, namely 1) integrated caring learning in the educational curriculum,

2) caring training and mentorship 3). Application of problem-based learning and role

play in student clinical learning. The conclusion obtained from this study is that the

caring character of nursing students can be built through integrated learning design

in the educational curriculum, continuous training and mentoring processes, and the

application of practical learning methods in the form of problem-based learning and

role play. Advice for educational institutions is that it is necessary to strengthen the

caring character of students as outlined in the curriculum, and learning process and

through continuous training and mentoring activities.

Keywords: behavioral caring; character building; student nursing

INTRODUCTION

Nursing students in the nursing practice learning process relate to patients with

families. The relationship between students and patients occurs in health services in

hospitals, community health centers, communities, and communities (Thompson et

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al., 2021). Student caring behavior is important when in the learning process as a

phase of implementing theory into nursing service practice (Sukartini et al., 2019).

Caring behavior of officers in providing nursing services in hospitals is believed to

increase patient satisfaction and safety (Duffy, 2008).

Caring nursing services become the essence of nursing based on the values of

kindness, care, love for oneself and others and respect for one's spiritual dimension

(Linton & Koonmen, 2020; Watson, 2008). Caring is a knowledge of humanity and

the core of ethical and philosophical nursing practice.

Caring nurses in nursing services is an important factor in creating customer

satisfaction. Nurses need to have special abilities related to fast-paced service and

must be precise. This is because the percentage of nurses in hospitals in general is

greater than other health workers (such as doctors, pharmacists and psychologists)

which is around 40% – 60% (Suroso, 2011). Nurses who meet the criteria of caring

in attitude and behavior will ensure the provision of excellent nursing services and

satisfy patients in the hospital (Fawcett & Desanto-Madeya, 2012).

Complaints against nursing services submitted by patients and families are

among others related to the slowness of health workers in handling in the emergency

department (IGD), such as what happened at a regional general hospital (RSUD) in

Medan in 2013, RSUD in Makassar in 2013, and RSU Dr. Soetomo Surabaya. Some

information shows that the problem of quality of health services in Indonesia

generally comes from administrative, facility or environmental factors, and caring for

nursing services (Anfal, 2020; Radito, 2014) Several studies show that the caring

behavior of nursing services in several hospitals in Indonesia is still not in accordance

with the expectations of patients and families. The results of research between 2009-

2012 showed that in Jakarta, Bogor, Gorontalo, Semarang, Surakarta and Banyumas

there are still attitudes and behaviors of caring nursing services that are perceived as

lacking by patients and families in hospitals (Ambarika & Wardani, 2021).

The results of a study conducted by Anna, A., Nuraeni, A., Praptiwi, A. (2018),

showed that more than half of the nursing student respondents did not show caring

behavior. A 2015 study on services in hospital emergency departments in the

Banyumas area, mentioned five indicators of caring behavior needed by patients,

including; fast and agile, friendly and polite, praying for patients, clear in providing

information, and competent in providing services (Suroso et al., 2015). In practice,

it is still found that the behavior of officers is not optimal in displaying caring in the

service process, including ethical aspects in service (Papastavrou et al., 2012).

This is likely due to the lack of knowledge about caring and the lack of caring

training in the learning process in educational institutions when as a prospective

nurse. After becoming a nurse, coaching and training on caring may also be rarely

done, because of the busy factor in carrying out the main duties of the ministry.

Therefore, there needs to be a systematic and integrated effort in caring

learning, since someone is still a prospective nurse in educational institutions, and

caring training after becoming a nurse in health service facilities. This effort can be

done by first equalizing perceptions about the characteristics of caring, between

nursing education managers and hospital management. Based on the background of

the problems mentioned above, research problems that need to be researched can be

formulated are; What is the strategy to build caring character for nursing students.

RESEARCH METHODS

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This study used a qualitative design (Moleong, 2012). Data was obtained

through structured interviews with 13 leaders of nursing in hospitals, and leaders of

educational institutions. Respondents are selected according to the criteria; a leader

in the field of nursing in health services, leader of nursing education, chairman of the

nursing education association, and chairman of the nursing vocational education

association (Rahardjo, 2017). Data was obtained through the open-ended question

"how do strategies improve the caring behavior of nursing students during the

learning process?". Data analysis is carried out by recording the content of answers

from respondents. The content of the resonant answers is then grouped into

keywords, categories and themes.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Characteristics of respondents

The characteristics of respondents based on education, institution of origin,

gender, and length of work can be described as follows :

Figure 1 Education respondents 62.5% S2 health / nursing, 23.1% S3

health / nursing and 15.4% S1 Ners.

Figure 2 69.2% of respondents came from educational institutions, and 30.8%

from health care facilities.

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Figure 2 The respondents in this study were 46.2% male, and the rest were

female

Strategies to build student caring character

The results of the study obtained three major themes of caring character

building strategies for nursing students, namely 1) integrated caring learning in the

educational curriculum, 2) caring training and menthorship 3). Application of

problem base learning and role play in student clinical learning. The three themes are

supported by categories and keywords. The results of the study can be illustrated in

this table :

Table 1. Content analysis strategy builds caring character of nursing students

Keywords

Category

theme

Learning ethics, case learning, learning

effective communication, laboratory

practice, clinic, learning n hards skills, soft

skills, training, clinical practice, soft skills

education or character education,

Caring is built

through the

learning process

Caring learning is

integrated in the

Education curriculum

Competence, every learning outcome, not

only hard skills, soft skills, education related

to student positions, demonstrating,

behavior

Caring included

in the learning

curriculum

Training, mentorship, coaching

Training and

mentoring caring

Training and

menthorship of

sustainable caring

Giving examples, habituating behavior, in

lectures, developing soft skills, real

examples, interaction processes during

learning activities, directly or indirectly

Continuous

caring learning

Case Study and Problem-Solving with

Assistance,

Caring learning

through Problem

base learning

Application of

problem base learning

and role play in

student clinical

learning

Lecturers become role models, lecturers are

sharing with students, always provide

motivation in learning

Role models in

caring practices

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Based on table 1, it can be explained that each theme is supported by categories

and keywords. The first theme is caring learning integrated in the learning curriculum

(Clark & Mahboobin, 2017). This theme is supported by two categories, namely

caring is built through the learning process, and caring is included in the learning

curriculum. The keywords that support this theme are 21 keywords.

The second theme, namely; Continuous Caring Training and Mentoring. The

theme is supported by two categories, namely training and mentoring caring, and

continuous caring learning. These categories are organized based on 10 keywords.

The third theme, namely; Application of problem base learning and role play

in student clinical learning. This theme is supported by two categories, namely caring

learning through problem base learning, and role models in caring practice. These

two categories are organized by six keywords.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion obtained from this study is that the caring character of nursing

students can be built through three things Learning design integrated in the educational

curriculum. Ongoing training and mentoring. Application of practical learning methods

in the form of problem base learning and role play

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Jebul Suroso, Sriyanto, Isna Hikmawati ( 2023 )

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