Caring attributes of nursing staff: Ratings by nursing students

The purpose of this study was to describe caring attributes of nursing staff as rated by nursing students. A convenience sample of 166 second year associate degree nursing students was asked to rate caring attributes of nursing staff using the Nyberg Caring Assessment Scale, a twenty item 5-point Likert scale instrument. One hundred and thirty-seven nursing students volunteered to participate in the study. The caring attribute "communicate a helping, trusting attitude toward others" was rated as extremely important by the participants. The participants rated "remains committed to a continuing relationship" and "considers relationship before rules" as slightly important. The remaining items were rated as somewhat important to very important. The study adds to the literature of caring in nursing education and practice.