The Lived Experience of Nursing Students Sitting with Patients: A Phenomenological Study
Abstract
In an inpatient healthcare setting, patient sitters play a key role in maintaining the safety of patients who are exhibiting acute psychiatric or behavioral issues. These sitters are often nursing students working as nurse technicians. There is a gap in the literature surrounding sitting with patients, also known as specialling, concerning the lived experiences of nursing students assigned to be patient sitters as part of their job. The aim of this phenomenological study is to elucidate their experiences. The research question guiding this study is what is the lived experience of nursing students working as patient sitters? Student nurses from East Tennessee State University were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling. Four (N = 4) nursing students participated in an unstructured interview conducted by the Primary Investigator. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and deidentified. Transcripts were analyzed using the van Manen six step method of hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry. Preliminary findings reveal similar experiences and feelings between nursing students, including shared feelings of fear and heartbreak, and being emotional burdened by sitting with patients. Another common theme is a lack of training for patient sitters. This study fills a gap in the nursing literature regarding the lived experiences of specialling. These findings will inform nursing education, practice, policy, regulation, and patient outcomes.
Start Time
15-4-2026 11:00 AM
End Time
15-4-2026 12:00 PM
Room Number
271
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
UG Orals
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Kendrea Todt
The Lived Experience of Nursing Students Sitting with Patients: A Phenomenological Study
271
In an inpatient healthcare setting, patient sitters play a key role in maintaining the safety of patients who are exhibiting acute psychiatric or behavioral issues. These sitters are often nursing students working as nurse technicians. There is a gap in the literature surrounding sitting with patients, also known as specialling, concerning the lived experiences of nursing students assigned to be patient sitters as part of their job. The aim of this phenomenological study is to elucidate their experiences. The research question guiding this study is what is the lived experience of nursing students working as patient sitters? Student nurses from East Tennessee State University were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling. Four (N = 4) nursing students participated in an unstructured interview conducted by the Primary Investigator. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and deidentified. Transcripts were analyzed using the van Manen six step method of hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry. Preliminary findings reveal similar experiences and feelings between nursing students, including shared feelings of fear and heartbreak, and being emotional burdened by sitting with patients. Another common theme is a lack of training for patient sitters. This study fills a gap in the nursing literature regarding the lived experiences of specialling. These findings will inform nursing education, practice, policy, regulation, and patient outcomes.
