Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2026
Document Type
Dissertation (799 registration)
Degree Name
Master of Science in Educational Leadership
Department
Graduate Studies
Committee Chair
Alicia Swanson
Keywords
faculty caring, professional quality of life, NSPIC, Short ProQOL, student nurses
Abstract
Abstract
Burnout and compassion satisfaction in academic clinical contexts are critical dimensions of professional quality of life (ProQOL) in nursing education, yet their influence on student perceptions of faculty caring remains underexplored. Guided by Watson’s Theory of Human Caring and a social constructivist lens, this quantitative, cross-sectional correlational study examined relationships between nursing students’ self-reported professional quality of life and perceptions of faculty caring interactions. Data were collected from 207 prelicensure nursing students enrolled in practical, associate, and baccalaureate programs at two Midwestern institutions. Two validated instruments were employed: the Professional Quality of Life Scale – Short Version (Short ProQOL) and the Nursing Students’ Perceptions of Instructor Caring (NSPIC). Pearson correlation analyses revealed a statistically significant moderate positive relationship between overall ProQOL and NSPIC scores (r = .433, p < .001). Subscale analyses indicated that burnout in academic clinical contexts was negatively correlated with perceptions of caring (r = –.338, p < .001), while compassion satisfaction demonstrated a positive correlation (r = .363, p < .001). These findings suggest that student professional quality of life influences recognition of caring behaviors, underscoring the reciprocal nature of relational pedagogy. Implications include integrating wellness strategies with faculty development to enhance caring interactions and support student resilience. Future research should employ longitudinal and multi-level designs to explore causal pathways and contextual moderators.
Keywords: nursing education, faculty caring, professional quality of life, burnout, compassion satisfaction, Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, student nurse, NSPIC, perceptions of caring
Recommended Citation
How, Lynette A., "Investigating the Relationship Between Student Nurse Perceptions of Faculty Caring Interactions and Their Reported Professional Quality of Life" (2026). Dissertations, Theses, and Projects. 1144.
https://red.mnstate.edu/thesis/1144