J Educ Res Nurs. 2025; 22(3): 220-226 | DOI: 10.14744/jern.2025.80037

Effects of Authentic Education Based on Watson's Theory of Human Care on Care Orientation in Nursing Students

Ayşe Metin¹, Nazlı Baltacı², Özen Kulakaç^2
1Department of Nursing, Obstetrics, Women's Health and Diseases Nursing, Erzurum Technical University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Erzurum, Türkiye
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Health Sciences, Samsun, Türkiye

Background: Nursing education is instructor-oriented and influenced by traditional medicine. Such an approach to teaching may make it difficult for nurses to develop a humanistic understanding of care.
Aim: This study explored how authentic education, rooted in Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, impacts nursing students' care orientation and perceptions in a Caring Behaviors course.
Methods: This mixed-methods study included 74 students, divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a semester of authentic learning based on Watson’s Theory. Quantitative data were collected via a Personal Information Form and the Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale. Qualitative data were obtained through reflective writing and focus group interviews with 15 participants from the intervention group. The chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and paired samples test were used for data analysis.
Results: The median age of the students was 20 years, with 89.2% of the intervention group and 86.5% of the control group being female. There were no significant demographic or personal differences between the groups. Following the training, the intervention group showed significant improvements in care orientation and applicability scores. Qualitative interviews identified key themes such as humanism, altruism, awareness, and authenticity.
Conclusion: Integrating Watson's Human Care Theory with authentic learning methods in caring behavior courses enriches instruction, broadens nursing students' understanding of care beyond physical needs, and aligns with the theory's humanistic principles.

Keywords: Authentic learning, care orientation, care, caring behaviors, nursing, Watson’s Human Care Theory

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