Exploring Nurse-Patient Trust Among Generation Z Nursing Students

The purpose of this study was to explore trust in nurse-patient relationships from the perspectives of Generation Z nursing students. Eligible and consented participants were interviewed one-on-one via a semistructured interview questionnaire with audio recordings. Data analysis was completed by directed content analysis. Three themes emerged from the data: caring, communication, and competencies. Participants felt well prepared to develop nurse-patient trusting relationships with their future patients. However, they anticipated challenges in building trust with the older generations of patients. The study confirms Generation Z nursing students' altruistic professional values and readiness to develop trust in a nurse-patient relationship.