EXPERIENCIA DE ESTUDIANTES DE ENFERMERÍA, EN LA PRÁCTICA CLÍNICA COMPASIVA CON ADULTOS MAYORES CHILENOS: ESTUDIO CUALITATIVO FENOMENOLÓGICO

INTRODUCTION. The growing population of older adults living in conditions of vulnerability and suffering presents an urgent challenge in training nursing professionals with compassionate competencies. Compassionate care not only alleviates the suffering of patients and their families but also has an impact on the healthcare professionals who provide it. OBJECTIVE. To describe the meanings of nursing students’ experiences during compassionate clinical practice with highly vulnerable older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Qualitative phenomenological study grounded in the philosophy of Edmund Husserl. Eleven fourth-year nursing students from a Chilean university participated, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using Streubert and Carpenter method. Rigor was ensured following Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. RESULTS. Four overarching categories emerged, reflecting the meaning of the experience as (1) a rewarding experience, (2) conscious care delivered with intention and willingness, (3) a process of learning and personal growth that goes beyond technical aspects, and (4) a reinforcement of professional identity. CONCLUSIONS. Compassionate clinical practice is an essential component in the education of nursing professionals, promoting humanised and meaningful care for older adults in vulnerable situations. Intentionally integrating these experiences into undergraduate education strengthens the sense of professional vocation and contributes to the transformation of healthcare delivery.