Date
9-17-2026
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
Chair
Rachel Joseph
Keywords
empathy, novice nurses, phenomenology, self-efficacy, acute care, nursing experiences
Disciplines
Nursing
Recommended Citation
Zurcher, Haley, "Novice Nurses’ Perceptions of Caring With Empathy in an Acute Care Hospital in the Northeastern United States: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8864.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8864
Abstract
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the essence of the experience of empathy among novice nurses in an acute care facility in the Northeast United States. The Central Research Question (CRQ) for this study was: What was the perceived experience/understanding of empathy by novice nurses working in acute care settings in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States? The study was guided by Bandura’s (1977) self-efficacy theory to examine how confidence, environmental influences, and personal beliefs shaped the development and expression of empathy in early nursing practice. The study was conducted at a large acute care hospital. The sample consisted of 10 novice nurses with fewer than two years of experience who were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews, journaling, and focus groups. Analysis followed Moustakas’ (1994) phenomenological procedures, including bracketing. The findings provided a better understanding of how novice nurses understood and experienced empathy in acute care settings and demonstrated how self-efficacy influenced their ability to provide compassionate, patient-centered care. The results contributed to the theoretical and empirical understanding of empathy in novice nursing practice and offered practical implications for nursing education, mentorship programs, and organizational strategies that support the development of empathy among new nurses.
