Learning Experience of Chinese Nursing Students during Clinical Practicum: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Abstract

The change in clinical environment can have a significant impact on nursing students’ clinical learning and as a consequence, to their competency. Students’ learning experiences could provide important insights for improving the existing approach towards clinical education. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore nursing students’ clinical learning experience. Focus group interviews were conducted with 20 final year nursing students studying a bachelor nursing programme at a self-financing tertiary institution in Hong Kong. Thematic analysis was conducted. 16 female and four male students were recruited. Six themes were identified: Anxiety towards clinical practicum, expectations of roles and responsibilities in practicum, ward environment, adequacy of support, learning attitude, and practicum arrangement. The findings suggest that nursing students are more discontented with their clinical training than before. Nursing faculty must look for possible ways to improve the clinical learning environment.

A Technology-Supported Guidance Model to Increase the Flexibility, Quality, and Efficiency of Nursing Education in Clinical Practice in Norway: Development Study of the TOPP-N Application Prototype

“…Target users were involved to elucidate the challenges related to clinical practice from the perspectives of NSs, NPs, and NEs. The development process also used the results of earlier studies on the challenges in guiding NSs in clinical education [ 12 , 17 , 28 , 29 ].…”

“…We invited user representatives (NSs, NPs, and NEs) to participate in developing our technology-supported guidance model, an approach that research indicates brings both advantages and challenges [47,48]. One advantage was that our user representatives recognized and confirmed that their challenges in nursing education in clinical practice were identical to those reported in research studies [7,17,28]. Our user representatives also underlined the need for an accessible solution compatible with their existing daily routines that provided positive input and reminders in daily clinical practice.…”

“…Research shows that when a challenge occurs in clinical practice, the NS and NP wait too long to involve the NE, making it harder to solve challenges at an early stage [ 7 ]. Although the above-mentioned challenges have been underlined for many years, a recent research study suggested that the challenges related to clinical practice in nursing education have only increased in the past 10 years [ 17 ].…”

Coping with the Experience of Bad Sleep and Fatigue Associated with the Nursing Clinical Practicum

“…A positive work environment with personalization is an important element for a positive work environment [ 39 ]. In addition, as the study by Tang [ 6 ] mentioned, encountering a variety of patients with different illnesses is highly challenging for nursing students. The conflict created by the differences between the actual and expected illness manifestations can cause anxiety in student nurses.…”

“…When practicing nursing care, anxiety-inducing situations might interrupt the student nurse’s inner learning motives, ability to assist, and level of hard work [ 4 , 5 ]. Many nursing studies mentioned their anxiety status, whether or not they were stimulated by the clinical practicum situation [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”