Nursing students' perceptions on clinical learning environment and mental health: a multicenter study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Mental Health Research
• Cross-Cultural Studies

Background:

• Limited research exists on nursing students' perceptions of mental health and clinical learning environments.
• Understanding these perceptions is crucial for improving student well-being and educational outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare nursing students' perceptions of mental health and clinical learning environments across public universities in Turkey, Lithuania, and Portugal.
• To identify factors influencing these perceptions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 571 nursing students from Turkey, Lithuania, and Portugal.
• Data collected using a demographic form, the Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher Scale (CLENS), and the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF).

Main Results:

• Significant differences were found in clinical learning environment and mental health status among the three countries (p<.001).
• Portuguese students scored highest on both the MHC-SF and CLENS.
• Supervision was the most valued component of the clinical learning environment.
• Age, gender, and mental health status influenced CLENS scores.

Conclusions:

• Portuguese nursing students demonstrated more favorable perceptions of mental health and clinical learning environments.
• Student perceptions are significantly influenced by demographic factors (age, gender) and the quality of the clinical learning environment.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to support nursing students' mental health and clinical education experiences.