Safe clinical practice in pre-licensure nursing students: A concept analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Safe clinical practice is fundamental for a secure healthcare environment.
• Defining safe clinical practice is essential for pre-licensure nursing students.
• Existing literature lacks a clear conceptual analysis of safe clinical practice for students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a concept analysis of safe clinical practice specifically for pre-licensure nursing students.
• To establish defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences of safe clinical practice.
• To develop a comprehensive definition of safe clinical practice in nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Walker and Avant's concept analysis approach.
• Conducted a literature search across multiple databases (CINAHL, Business Source Elite, ERIC, PsycINFO).
• Employed keywords such as "student," "safety," "performance," and "unsafe student" to identify relevant studies.

Main Results:

• Identified key attributes of safe clinical practice: knowledge, skills, individual accountability, and professionalism.
• Demonstrated that appropriate knowledge and skills are crucial for safe practice.
• Highlighted the importance of accountability and professionalism in maintaining a safe clinical environment.

Conclusions:

• Safe clinical practice for nursing students involves adequate preparation and a safe learning environment.
• Students must demonstrate situational knowledge, risk assessment, professional communication, and appropriate relationships.
• This analysis provides a framework for understanding and promoting safe clinical practice among nursing students.