Abstract

Introduction
The value of caring is extensively recognised as the essence of nursing. However, nursing students are observed to experience a loss of the caring ideal because of socialisation and exposure to clinical reality during clinical placement. An intensive caring workshop is piloted to strengthen the caring characters of nursing students.

Methods
Thirteen second-year nursing students participated in the caring workshop. The half-day caring workshop provided cognitive inputs of caring knowledge, practice of caring behaviours, and reflection on caring perceptions. Teaching modalities included didactic teaching, video viewing, scenario-based discussions, and role playing. After completion of the workshop, the students wrote a reflective journal on the caring issues that they learned from the activities.

Results
The reflective writing activity shows that students assimilated caring values of the nursing profession. They were concerned that a hasty clinical environment would undermine their caring character. They emphasised affirmation of the original motive to pursue the nursing profession for sustaining the caring passion. Students learned that caring behaviours begins with caring for oneself. They also realised that acknowledgment of the feelings and emotions of care recipients is fundamental in caring practice.

Discussion
Reflection is a key component to introduce the abstract concept of caring to nursing students. Journal writing enables them to reflect on their learning experience, thereby stimulating their affective responses and prompting them to internalise caring attitudes.