Preparedness for a first clinical placement in nursing: a descriptive qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professional Training
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• First clinical placements are critical for nursing students, bridging theory and practice.
• This period is emotionally challenging and can influence career decisions.
• Understanding changes in student perceptions during placement is crucial but under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore first-year nursing students' emotional responses and preparedness for their first clinical placement.
• To examine how student perceptions evolve or remain consistent throughout the placement experience.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post qualitative descriptive design was employed.
• Six focus groups were conducted before placement, and 10 individual interviews were held towards the end.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data.

Main Results:

• Three themes emerged: adjusting to a new environment, the "sinking or swimming" experience of altered expectations, and navigating interpersonal relationships.
• Students' initial expectations were significantly altered by their clinical placement experiences.
• Key aspects included managing emotions, adapting to practice, and building relationships with staff, patients, and peers.

Conclusions:

• This study highlights the dynamic nature of nursing students' experiences during their first clinical placement.
• Examining pre- and during-placement narratives reveals crucial insights into student adaptation and perspective shifts.
• Findings offer valuable information for educational institutions to better prepare nursing students for clinical practice.