Collaborative Informal Social Support Initiative as Perceived by the Nursing Students

Few studies have explored the experiences of nursing students participating in a collaborative informal socialsupport initiative. This study describes and explores how nursing students perceived their experiences ofparticipating in a pilot collaborative social support initiative program. The collaborative program initiated by thefaculty member, planned to facilitate the collaboration between the academic and clinical staffs in order tomanage the stress experienced by the mothers of cancer children, and to develop the nursing students knowledgeand skills.Mixed method approach was used. Convenience sample of nursing students practiced to fulfill the requirementof advanced nursing course objectives - a required last-semester nursing program course participating in the pilotsocial support program. Qualitative data were collected using team and individual reflection. Self report reactionindex was used to collect quantitative data. SWOT analysis framework to analyze the internal and externalstrengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that impact the program was utilized. Nursing studentsparticipating in the initiative program were highly positive about their experiences.