Caring Feedback in Nursing Education: A Five-Step Framework for Student-Centered Learning

BACKGROUND: Feedback is foundational in nursing education, yet traditional methods often lack clarity, compassion, and actionable guidance. Integrating caring pedagogy into feedback processes addresses these limitations and supports student-centered learning. METHOD: This article introduces a five-step feedback framework-(1) criterion-based; (2) formative; (3) personalized; (4) mastery-based; and (5) collaborative-designed to embed caring principles into instructional practice. Each step includes practical strategies for faculty to promote competence, resilience, and reflective learning. RESULTS: Application of this model has demonstrated improved student engagement, motivation, and clinical reasoning in educational settings that prioritize caring feedback. Evidence from current literature supports the connection between empathetic feedback and increased academic confidence, skill development, and professional identity formation. CONCLUSION: Embedding caring values into feedback practices transforms assessment into a relational, student-centered experience. The proposed framework offers a scalable, evidence-informed approach for nursing educators to foster both technical proficiency and compassionate care in future nurses.