Exploring senior nursing students’ perspectives on humanizing care for patients in isolation: a qualitative study

Background – Isolation units play a vital role in controlling disease transmission and ensuring the safety of both patients and healthcare professionals. However, the experience of isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and anxiety that negatively affect patients’ wellbeing and recovery. Given this, making care more humanized in these settings should be a key priority in healthcare. This study explores nursing students’ perspectives on interventions that contribute to humanizing care for patients in isolation units. Methods – A theory-informed qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 19 senior nursing students completing clinical placements in isolation units across five hospitals. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. Watson’s Theory of Human Caring was used as a sensitizing framework to support data interpretation. Results – The study identified several nursing interventions that enhance the humanization of patient care in isolation units. These interventions were classified into two main dimensions based on Watson’s theory. The instrumental dimension included interventions focused on symptom management, physical comfort, infection prevention and control, continuity of care, and discharge planning. The expressive dimension encompassed strategies directed at establishing a therapeutic relationship, individualized care planning, emotional and psychosocial support, relaxation and entertainment, patient empowerment, and family involvement. Conclusion – Categorizing these interventions within the framework of the Theory of Human Caring provides valuable insight into various approaches to humanizing care in isolation units. These findings can contribute to the development of patient-centered care models, encouraging healthcare professionals to deliver more comprehensive and compassionate care that addresses the holistic needs of isolated patients.