Introduction:

The nursing formation is based worldwide on the use of several conceptual models or theories that guide the nursing practice and allow sustaining the discipline as science. Nevertheless, these models should be adjusted to the requirements of nursing care in each setting.

Objective:

To describe the experience of the professional formation of nursing students in a Chilean university under its own conceptual model.

Methods:

Qualitative research based on the case study. After the process of obtaining the informed consent, 10 students from the 8th semester of the nursing career in Universidad Austral de Chile were included in the study. In-depth interviews were made to evaluate the perception of the students on the experience by applying Ines Astorquiza's Model of Human Needs. The analysis followed the Miles' and Huberman's referential analysis.

Results:

Five categories emerged from this study: Model as a scientific method, Model as identity, Model values, Teaching-Learning Process and Applicability. The students positively assessed the Model of Human Needs and described it as a scientific and systematic process that guides the clinical practice and allows giving priority to continuous, individual nursing care with biopsychosocial approach. It also grants identity, characteristic hallmark and it is suitable to use it as teaching strategy to achieve significant levels of learning, it is a simple model that can be applied in different settings.

Conclusions:

The study supports the use of the Model of Human Needs as a referential framework for the nursing formation. With this model, it is possible to reach nursing knowledge from a holistic perspective, with identity and to meet nursing care requirements within a particular context.

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