The empathic tendencies and skills of nursing students

The objective of this two-staged study was to examine effects of problem-based learning (PBL) on empathy of nursing students. ET (Empathic tendency) and ES (Empathic skill) scales were used to collect data. The first stage of the study was descriptive and longitudinal (n = 20). There were significant differences in ET average between the years. There were also significant differences in ES average between the first and second, and third and fourth year students. The second stage of the study was descriptive and cross-sectional (n = 192). There were no significant differences in ET means between the years of the program, but there were significant differences in ES points between the years of the program. It can be concluded that nursing students exposed to PBL develop empathic skills through the years of the PBL program.