Ways of strategies to knowing the patient described by nursing students

Knowing the patient has been identified in research as important in nursing practice. It's a central phenomenon used by nurses in decision-making to provide good and safe qualitative individualized care. The aim of this study was to describe what strategies nursing students' use to 'know the patient'. Interviews with ten nursing students were analysed using a qualitative content analysis. Four themes emerge: Prepare oneself before the first meeting; Creating relationship; Dare to be open and near; Doing the best for the patient, with a main theme: To engage with and care for the unique person. The results show that the nursing students prepare themselves by reading journals, asking staff members for information and research current diseases and medications before the first meeting with the patient. They also think through how to behave and to be present in the encounter and to create a good relationship with the patient which can only be done by spending time together. They are open-minded while listening to the patient to get to know the unique person behind the façade of the patient. This study indicates that knowing the patient is important to nursing students, or else they cannot provide good quality of care for the patients nor be satisfied in their work as nurses. The students also emphasize that if they are not able to get to know the patient, it's better for someone else to take over the responsibility of care for the patient.