Student Perceptions of CARING in Online Baccalaureate Education

The concept of caring in nursing education is foundational. Knowledge development regarding caring in face-to-face classroom settings, effective online teaching approaches, differences between online and face-to-face classroom settings, and supporting student success in online settings is extensive. However, the question of whether caring can be effectively conveyed in online nursing classroom settings remains unanswered. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of one cohort of RN to BSN students regarding how instructors convey caring in online education. Thirteen students were emailed surveys consisting of eight open-ended questions; II students responded. Eight themes emerged from the data: frequent feedback, timeliness, reciprocity of caring online, personal connection and empathy, clarity, multiple contact opportunities, second-fiddle worries, and teacher's commitment to learning.