To identify characteristics and teaching techniques of effective clinical instructors that can be utilized or implemented to improve the student nurse clinical experience. Background: The clinical instructor is an integral part of a quality clinical experience. They help students transfer didactic information to the practice setting. The clinical nursing experience is a vital component in the developmental process of the nursing student. Research has been done on this subject, but gaps remain. The need for a more in-depth understanding of students' perceptions of the characteristics and teaching techniques that best aid their comprehension and learning will help instructors to maximize student learning experiences in the practice setting. Method: This qualitative research study utilized the phenomenological research method. Three open-ended questions were posed to 14 nursing students to identify the characteristics and teaching techniques they believed comprised an effective clinical instructor. Individual interviews were conducted and transcribed interviews were reviewed to identify common themes. Three faculty members provided member checking to prevent bias by reviewing the transcribed interviews for common themes. Findings: Participants identified four main themes which include a trusting relationship, experience or knowledge, coach, and role model. The students found that they gained more knowledge, developed more critical thinking, and felt more confident with instructors who utilized characteristics and techniques from these four areas. Conclusion: Clinical instructors play an important role in preparing the student nurse in becoming a competent nurse in the practice setting. This information can be used to provide a foundation in creating an educational opportunity to inform nurse educators in the ways to become a more effective clinical instructor.

Undergraduate and graduate programs for healthcare professions are inconsistent in curricular offerings and incorporation of spiritual training. This study reviewed perceptions and opinions about spiritual care held by students at an American university. Data were collected using the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale and one open-ended question. Findings indicated that many students were comfortable incorporating spirituality into practice, and they desired additional training. As to how students would apply spirituality to their practice, themes of facilitating connection, holistic care, spiritual interventions, and benefits of spirituality were identified.

Home care agencies often fail to commit adequate resource time preparing nurses for POC technology. Successful implementations need to incorporate human issues in addition to the technical aspects for POC. This article discusses the experiences and perceptions of nurses who participated in a pilot POC training group. The pilot group and key elements of the training are presented. The results of a focus group present the major POC focus of importance for the nurses.