Knowing the Patient An exploration of student responses to patients’ illness stories by Sandra Hoffman, RN, MSN

Patients’ illness stories are a rich source of information about the profound effect of illness on patients’ lives. Illness can alter a person’s ontological sense of self, interrupt the ongoing creation of biography, and contain one’s self-expression in a perspective that sees ill persons primarily as patients with diagnoses, symptoms and treatment plans.

The nurse-patient relationship is a means to create patient voice. Patients need to tell stories of their illness experiences and have them recognized by caregivers in order to create meaning from their illness and re-integrate a sense of wholeness. Therefore, nursing students must come to understand and value narrative therapeutics as a part of holistic care.

The purpose of this study is to learn about the responses of nursing students as they listen to patient illness stories in an environment in which organizing objective information is the recognized means of knowledge construction

Elements of Jean Watson’s Caring Theory “Developing and sustaining a helping, trusting, authentic caring relationship” “Being present to, and supportive of, the expression of positive and negative feelings as a connection with deeper spirit of self and the one being cared for.” Cara, C. (2003). A pragmatic view of Jean Watson’s caring theory. International Journal for Human Caring, 7 (3), 51-59

Postmodernism …postmodern theorists…believe that knowledge is socially constructed and takes form in the eyes of the knower, rather than being acquired from an existing reality that resides “out there.””’ “’…postmodernists…believe that knowledge is tentative and multifaceted.”’ “”It is impossible to regard knowledge …without considering power. ….there is a direct link between knowledge and power. …power is not held by one individual or group but rather is present in the relationships among them.”” Kilgore, D.W. (2001). Critical and postmodern perspectives on adult learning. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 89, p. 53

Methodology Data collection Student interviews; Student journals Research questions What is the nature of the learning that occurs when nursing students interact with ill patients and listen to their stories of illness? What perceptions do nursing students have of the meaning of the personal stories that patients share with them? What contextual factors does the student recognize as influential in helping them make meaning of the personal information received from the patient?