Abstract

This study explored the perspectives and experiences of Iranian nursing students and nursing instructors about role modeling. Using a purposeful sampling strategy, 22 nursing students and seven nursing instructors were recruited from five nursing schools in Tehran. Three focus-group discussions and two individual semi-structured interviews with nursing students, and seven semi-structured interviews with nursing instructors, were conducted to gather data. A qualitative content analysis approach was utilized and three main themes emerged during data analysis: attempt to promote emotional development,attempt to promote spiritual development, and attempt to promote intellectual development. It was concluded that understanding the factors influencing role modeling will be helpful for developing strategies to integrate role modeling into nursing education so as to promote the quality of nursing education in Iran.