Attributes of the caring teacher of Nursing as perceived by diploma nursing students

The problem of the study was to explore and compare the differences in perceptions of the attribures of the caring nurse teacher. Responses were compared to the Bush Model of the caring teacher of nursing. Data were obtained from a convenience sample of 51 diploma nursing students and their 24 faculty members. Student and faculty groups completed an open-ended questionnaire that elicited a total of 441 responses. A majority of the responses supported the major concepts and subconcepts of the Bush Model.

The null hypothesis was rejected. There was a significant difference between students and faculty based on Spirituality with a secondary contribution of Sensitivity. Findings revealed that students’ responses with the highest consensus were: (a) good listener, (b) knowledge of the field, and (c) willing to explain. The faculty’s highest frequency of responses was: (a) honesty, knowledge of field, and professional role model; (b) good listener, enthusiasm, and empathy; and (c) sense of humor.