Nursing students' expectations, satisfaction, and perceptions regarding clinical learning environment: A...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Student Learning Environments

Background:

• The clinical learning environment is crucial for nursing students' professional socialization and competence development.
• Effective clinical environments foster professional growth and practical skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess nursing students' expectations, satisfaction levels, and perceptions of their clinical learning environment.
• To identify factors influencing student perceptions of the clinical learning environment.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 1484 undergraduate nursing students.
• Data collected using a self-designed questionnaire and The Clinical Learning Environment Scale.
• Adherence to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist.

Main Results:

• Students primarily expect supportive attitudes and active participation; 53.8% reported satisfaction.
• Highest satisfaction reported in technical skills and interpersonal caring experiences.
• Perception of the clinical learning environment was influenced by professional perspective, theory-to-practice transfer, and satisfaction with clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• Nursing students require significant support and supervision from instructors and clinical staff.
• Educational and clinical support are fundamental needs for students during their learning journey.
• The importance of clinical mentoring is amplified due to potential imbalances in instructor-to-student ratios.