Supporting Students’ Understanding of Caring Science as a Meaningful Basis for Practice

Abstract

Caring science has been described as abstract, difficult to apply, or unscientific common sense. An alternative view is that caring science knowledge does not pose a greater challenge because it is abstract, but because it challenges caregivers’ existence. No matter how nursing faculty perceive these challenges, it is crucial to create a context where students are supported in the integration of theoretical knowledge. This article addresses teachers’ responsibility for creating a caring learning environment. It further proposes how reflections on perspectives and concepts can be linked to experiential learning to contribute to students’ embodied understanding of caring science.