Caring Connections: Self-Disclosure of Students’ Stories to Teachers in Nursing

Abstract

This phenomenological study explored nurse educators’ experiences of human to human connection through students’ disclosures of their personal stories to them. Through interviews with nurse educators and analysis of texts, an interpretation of the meaning of the experience for the participants is described. The interpretation is illuminated in the three patterns that emerged. 1.) Creating The Context For Knowing describes patterns of caring and human connection that may create a context for self-disclosure by the student. 2.) Knowing: What Do I Do With What I Know? describes the ethical and moral dilemmas surrounding how the teacher responds to the information disclosed in the student’s story. 3.) Privileged Intimacy: How Knowing Affects Teachers and the Teaching-Learning Situation describes how the person to person connection experienced in hearing students’ stories affects teachers.