Nursing Students' Perceptions of Faculty Trustworthiness: Thematic Analysis of a Longitudinal Study
Department
WellStar School of Nursing
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Abstract
Background Although trust and perceived trustworthiness have been studied for decades, few studies have examined nursing students' perceptions of faculty trustworthiness. Objectives To uncover the characteristics and behaviors of faculty members that lead nursing students to trust them. Design A longitudinal, qualitative study using focus group data. Setting A baccalaureate nursing school at a state university in the southeastern United States. Participants Two cohorts of nursing students (starting in the Fall of 2015 or Spring of 2016) during the beginning, middle, and end of their advancement through the nursing school curriculum. Methods Eleven focus groups were held with a total of 77 participants from a purposeful sample of two cohorts. Thematic analysis was conducted on the focus group data. Results Three core themes emerged regarding the characteristics and behaviors of faculty members that lead nursing students to trust them: Giving of Oneself, Being Competent, and Having Integrity. The study findings provide guidance to nursing faculty regarding how to be perceived as trustworthy by students and how to avoid being perceived as untrustworthy. Conclusions Upon examining their personal traits, words and behaviors, nursing educators may choose to change aspects of their demeanor to foster a student-faculty relationship built on trust.
Journal Title
Nurse Education Today
Journal ISSN
0260-6917
Volume
72
First Page
27
Last Page
31
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.nedt.2018.10.008