Student Perceptions of Clinical Instructor Characteristics Affecting Clinical Experiences

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Pedagogy

Background:

• Clinical instructors significantly influence student learning experiences.
• Limited understanding exists regarding student-perceived instructor qualities that foster or impede effective clinical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe student perceptions of clinical instructor characteristics.
• To identify attributes that positively and negatively impact clinical learning.

Main Methods:

• Multisite prospective, descriptive exploratory research design.
• Qualitative content analysis of student feedback.

Main Results:

• Students prioritized instructor knowledge and support as most desirable.
• Patience, challenge creation, enthusiasm, and organization were also ranked highly.
• Key themes included effective knowledge conveyance, professionalism, enthusiasm, and caring.

Conclusions:

• Findings can inform nurse educator hiring and placement strategies.
• Results support the development of mentoring programs to enhance clinical teaching.
• Focusing on desired instructor characteristics can promote clinical teaching excellence.