Use of clinical logs by beginning nursing students and faculty to identify learning needs

Students entering a nursing program bring with them an increasing variety of life experiences. This study compares the learning needs of nontraditional and traditional nursing students during the first clinical experience. Twenty sophomore students wrote weekly reactions to their clinical experiences in the form of a log. The logs analyzed each week's clinical experience, assessed attainment of the week's goals, and identified goals for the following week. Descriptive analysis identified the following major themes and patterns of learning needs: learning from negative experiences, awareness of contextual influences, recognition of improved communication skills, identification of locus of motivation, and ability to conduct client teaching. Building on students' prior experiences can provide opportunities for self-reflection and promote the development of self-directed learning.