Nursing students' expectations regarding effective clinical education: a qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Training
• Medical Education

Background:

• Effective clinical education is vital for developing competent nursing professionals.
• Student expectations shape the learning environment and outcomes.
• Understanding these expectations can improve nursing curricula.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Bachelor of Science nursing students' expectations of effective clinical education.
• To identify key factors contributing to a positive and impactful clinical learning experience.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study using semistructured interviews.
• 17 nursing students from sophomore, junior, and senior years participated.
• Content analysis was used to interpret interview data.

Main Results:

• Three primary themes emerged: instructor-student communication, theory-practice integration, and instructor specialization.
• Effective communication and interaction with instructors are highly valued.
• Bridging the gap between theory and practice, supported by appropriate evaluation, is essential.
• Specialized instructors with strong knowledge and motivation significantly enhance student learning.

Conclusions:

• Mentors play a pivotal role in delivering effective educational and clinical experiences.
• Nursing instructors should continuously enhance their knowledge and clinical skills to meet student needs.
• Addressing student expectations can lead to improved clinical education quality.