Experience of Novice Clinical Adjunct Faculty: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Faculty Development
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Adjunct instructors are vital for nursing student clinical training.
• Limited research exists on adjunct faculty experiences.
• This study explores novice adjunct clinical faculty role transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the lived experiences of novice clinical adjunct nursing faculty.
• To identify challenges and facilitators during their role transition.
• To gather insights for improving support for adjunct faculty.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving nine novice adjunct clinical nursing faculty.
• Data collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews.
• Conventional content analysis applied to interview narratives.

Main Results:

• Four major themes emerged: unpreparedness, facilitators and barriers, new learning needs, and recommendations.
• Participants reported feeling unprepared for the role.
• Key themes included challenges and facilitators in the transition and specific learning needs.

Conclusions:

• Nursing programs must support adjunct faculty for effective clinical education.
• Targeted and consistent efforts are needed to integrate adjunct faculty.
• Recognizing and supporting adjunct faculty contributions enhances academic integration.