The perspectives of patients, nursing students and supervisors on “the caring–learning space” – a synthesis of and further abstracton of previous studies

The aim was to describe and gain a greater understanding of the phenomenon “caring-learning space” based on the perspectives of patients, nursing students, and supervisors in clinical practice contexts. A general structure of the phenomenon “caring-learning space” was created based on essential structures from five empirical studies. The analysis is based on a reflective lifeworld research approach (RLR). The “caring-learning” space shows itself in terms of interpersonal relationships between patients, students, supervisors, and other actors in the care environment. It is first when the learning space is accepted as a part of caring, that a “caring-learning space” is created. A flexibility and a receptivity are seen where the learning is allowed to become visible and be integrated in the caring processes when caring and learning to interact. A caring-learning space is established by the patient being the focal point, but also a co-creator in caring as well as learning regardless of her/his health status. This entails that the ”caring-learning space” exists when patients, students, supervisors and other healthcare professionals interact based on their ability and role in the space.