Clinical resource centers in nursing programs

Whether it is called a nursing lab, clinical resource center, or something else, the need to have a place where students can observe and practice clinical skills before entering the actual clinical setting is critical. Surprisingly, nothing could be found in the literature that describes the physical structure, resources, budget, or administration of these centers. To better understand the "state of the art" of clinical resource centers in schools and colleges in the United States, a national survey was developed and administered. The findings are useful for evaluation and planning purposes by clinical resource center directors and nursing program administrators.