Abstract
BACKGROUND: Empathy, cultural sensibility, and professional identity are crucial attributes for nursing students, as they significantly influence patient care quality and culturally competent practices. Understanding these traits is essential for developing tailored educational interventions to prepare nursing students for diverse healthcare environments. This study aimed to assess the levels of empathy, cultural sensibility, and professional identity among nursing students and explore the relationships among these variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive design was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University, Egypt. A stratified random sampling technique was used to recruit 520 undergraduate nursing students who had completed at least one clinical course. Data were collected using validated tools: the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE), the Cultural Sensibility Scale for Nursing (CUSNUR), and the Professional Identity Scale for Nursing Students (PISNS). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize participants. Pearson's correlation coefficients assessed relationships between variables. Path analysis using SPSS-AMOS version 26 evaluated the mediating role of cultural sensibility in the relationship between professional identity and empathy. RESULTS: The mean empathy score was high (mean ± SD: 104.8 ± 15.2), with students excelling in the "Perspective Taking" subscale. The mean cultural sensibility score was moderate (mean SD: 78.6 ± 12.7), indicating room for improvement in addressing cultural diversity. Professional identity levels were strong (mean SD: 68.4 ± 10.9), with "Professional Self-Image" being the highest-rated subscale. A positive correlation was found between empathy and cultural sensibility (r = .42, p < .001) and between cultural sensibility and professional identity (r = .37, p < .001). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the interrelationship between empathy, cultural sensibility, and professional identity in nursing students, emphasizing the need for educational strategies that enhance these attributes to better prepare students for culturally competent and empathetic care. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.