Emotional Growth Improvement in Nursing Students based on Growing up and Role Modeling Theories

Introduction: Considering the importance of communication skills in nursing educators, in terms of having educational and practical experiences and amenability as well as student acceptance as a mentor, have an important role in shaping students’ behavior including emotional growth behaviors. The aim of this study was to improve the emotional growth of nursing students based on growing up and role modelling theories. Methods: The present study was a collaborative action research. All of freshmen undergraduate nursing students from the faculty of nursing in 2015(n=30), Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, entered into the study. After developing a standard and valid questionnaire, the emotional development was assessed. Strategies for improving emotional growth were identified by relevant literature reviews, interview sessions with faculty members and group discussions with target student. In the implementation step, some of the feasible strategies were conducted. Students' emotional development was measured in 4 times (at the beginning of the study (March 2015), twice during the study and once at the end of the study (February 2017)). Results: The total score of emotional growth of students was 90.9± 18.9. In the planning phase, after conducting directed content analysis of interviews and group discussions, solutions were identified. The main strategies identified were effective communication, motivation, self-esteem and positive identity. After completing some strategies at the implementation stage, finally their emotional growth scores in the areas positive identity, effective communication and motivation, as well as the total score of emotional development of students at different times were higher than baseline. Over the two years the total score of students' emotional growth was increased from 90.9±18.9 to 97.9±11.9. Conclusion: Using effective strategies such as creating a suitable environment for effective interaction between lecturers and students, and helping to increase self-esteem and motivation in students can be helpful in students' emotional growth improvement.