Vol. 10, Issue 1, Part C (2024)

Introduction: Empathy is the fundamental skill in therapeutic communication for holistic patient care. It is one of the basic qualities that a nurse must be empathetic in providing care to the patient. Empathy is a predominantly cognitive attribute that involves an understanding of experiences, concerns and perspectives of the patient with an intention to help.

Aim: The aim of the study is to assess self-reported empathy among nursing students studying in selected Colleges of North India.

Materials and Methods: A Cross-sectional descriptive online survey was carried out to assess self-reported empathy among 387 nursing students studying in selected colleges of North India. Original data were collected from undergraduate nursing students from first to fourth year using socio demographic tool and Standardized Jefferson Scale of Empathy.

Results: The study results revealed that most 189(50%) of participants were belong to age between 18-20 years. Majority 359(95%) of them were female. 100(26.6%) of them were from 4th year of Undergraduate course. Greater number 365(96.6%) of them has preferred nursing as profession followed by 13(3.4%) of them don’t want to adopt nursing as profession. 272(72.22%) of them had intention to work as nurse after graduation followed by 90(23.80%) of them had replied that they do not have intention to work as nurse after graduation and 15(3.98%) of them don’t want to work as nurse after graduation.

Conclusion: This study concluded that There was a significant association of level of empathy with year of study (p<0.011) and intent to work (p<0.023) as p<0.05 level of significant.