Abstract

PURPOSE
To examine nursing students' experiences in visiting care practice in community.
METHOD
According to phenomenological method and Collaizzi's data analysis, all data were collected from March to June 2002 through written daily reports by 56 students in the visiting care unit of four public health centers. Four researchers had sought the daily reports for significant data.
RESULT
In the research, 118 significant statements were selected and 33 subject groups were organized from the statements. From the 33 groups were identified 10 categories finally, which were as follows: stress, reflecting the nursing identity, considering the meaning of life, importance of family, necessity of social interest, compassion, worth of visiting care, the limits of visiting nursing care, identified characteristics of clients, both sides of the role model.
CONCLUSION
Through visiting care practice, nursing students experienced stress, nursing identity, both sides of role model, and the worth and limits of visiting care. students felt the necessity of systems for lower classes and considering general characteristics of the clients. Above all, they came to have a wider perspective of the society through the practice.