EXPLORING THE NURSING STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE OF PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE

Abstract

Background: Psychosocial care is a critical element of holistic nursing, addressing patients’ emotional, psychological, and social needs. Nursing students’ readiness to provide such care remains underexplored in Pakistan. Objective: To examine BSN students’ perspectives on psychosocial care, including knowledge, attitudes, and perceived challenges in clinical practice. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 174 BSN students at Ittefaq College of Nursing, Lahore, using a validated structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Most students recognized the importance of psychosocial care, particularly in listening to patients (79.8%), providing reassurance (77.5%), maintaining privacy (91.3%), and addressing spiritual needs (78%). Fewer students agreed on sitting with patients (59%) or maintaining contact post-discharge (21.3%), indicating gaps in applying psychosocial principles. Conclusion: Nursing students value psychosocial care but require enhanced training, practical exposure, and mentorship to bridge theory-practice gaps and improve holistic patient care