Experience of Nursing Students' Therapeutic Use of Self in Web-Based Psychiatric Nursing Practicum Focusing on Role-Playing

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the experiences of nursing students' therapeutic use of self in web-based psychiatric nursing practicum focusing on role-playing.Methods: The participants were 13 senior nursing students who had underwent three weeks of web-based psychiatric nursing practicum. Data were collected through in-depth video interviews, and analyzed using the grounded theory method, developed by Strauss and Corbin (1998).Results: In total, 14 categories and 29 sub-categories were generated. The central phenomenon was “hardship in the therapeutic use of self.” The action/interaction strategies were “implementation of role-playing considering therapeutic communication,” “heightened sensitivity about nursing priorities,” and “performing relearning and repetitive training”. The consequences of these action/interaction strategies went through “further development of the therapeutic use of self,” “recognizing that persistent self-reflection is required”, and that the participants “gained confidence about the therapeutic use of self.” The core category of the experience of therapeutic use of self was to “overcome hardship and confidently advance forward.” This process manifested in the stages of burden, crouching, urgency, and confidence.Conclusion: The findings suggest that more attention needs to be paid to the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic use of self in education and research.