Research on the formation of humanistic care ability in nursing students: A structural equation approach

To construct and test a hypothetical model linking the caring ability of nursing students with empathy ability, emotional intelligence, and communication ability. Participants were 851 students from three undergraduate colleges and one junior college in China, Gansu Province. Participating students had to fulfill the following requirements: different levels of nursing majors (undergraduates or junior college students), understand the study purpose, and be willing to participate in this study. Exclusion: secondary college students. Variables were measured by the Caring Ability Inventory, Emotional Intelligence Scale, Supportive Communicative Scale, and Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling to explore the path relationships and mutual effects between structural elements. Empathy (β = 0.25, P