Nursing Students' Satisfaction and Self-Confidence After Short-Term Clinical Preparation: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Transition Support

Background:

• The transition from nursing theory to clinical practice presents global challenges.
• Short-term preparatory courses show international promise but lack Saudi Arabian context data.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate nursing students' satisfaction and self-confidence post-preparatory courses.
• Assess the effectiveness of these courses in Saudi Arabia.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive cross-sectional study (n=117) at Taibah University.
• Validated questionnaire assessing satisfaction and self-confidence.
• Two-week courses covered care plans, hospital orientation, and infection control.

Main Results:

• High student satisfaction (mean=4.29) and self-confidence (mean=4.31).
• Highest satisfaction with instructor effectiveness and teaching methods.
• Strong positive correlation (r=0.79) between satisfaction and self-confidence.

Conclusions:

• Short-term preparatory courses effectively enhance nursing student satisfaction and self-confidence.
• Interventions improving one aspect likely benefit the other.
• Supports integrating preparatory programs into nursing curricula for smoother clinical transitions.