Aesthetic expression of caring in nursing among Japanese undergraduate nursing students.
BACKGROUND
Caring is the heart of nursing. However, not many understand the significance of caring in nursing from the perspectives of undergraduate nursing students, especially in Japan.


AIM
To describe caring in nursing among Japanese nursing students as learned and communicated through their aesthetic expressions.


METHODS
The study employed hermeneutic phenomenology. Sixty-one Japanese nursing students in their second year of baccalaureate degree studies participated. Constituting the data were art-based graphic expressions, such as drawings and written reflections on the drawings, as a response to the question of how the participants describe their meanings of caring in nursing. The thematic analysis method was used to analyze and interpret the data. The trustworthiness of the research was established following Lincoln and Guba's criteria.


FINDINGS
Seven thematic categories were identified. These categories include (1) Engaging with others; (2) Knowing each other; (3) Being with other persons; (4) Nurturing intimate personal growth; (5) Supporting wholeness of persons; (6) Vacillating rhythm; and (7) Intensifying competency.


CONCLUSION
This study described the understanding of caring in nursing among undergraduate Japanese nursing students during their second year of study. The caring in nursing focused on reciprocal relationships, whole-person relating, and practice competency. Findings suggested that nurse educators should develop teaching-learning strategies for nursing students to continuously grow as caring persons.
['Kongsuwan|Waraporn|W|', 'Yasuhara|Yuko|Y|', 'Tanioka|Tetsuya|T|', 'Locsin|Rozzano|R|', 'Osaka|Kyoko|K|']
D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate D004954:Esthetics D005181:Faculty, Nursing D006801:Humans D007564:Japan D013338:Students, Nursing
Aesthetic expression Caring Nursing student Art