Lived experience of nursing students during their paediatric clinical placement: a qualitative study protocol

Paediatric clinical education presents unique challenges for nursing students owing to the clinical complexity and emotional sensitivity of caring for ill children and their families. This high-stakes period profoundly influences students' professional identity. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of nursing students during their paediatric practicum through a descriptive phenomenological lens.

This study will be conducted using a qualitative design with a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data will be collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with undergraduate nursing students who have completed their paediatric clinical rotation. Purposive sampling will be employed, continuing until data saturation is achieved. Interviews will be recorded in a quiet confidential setting and subsequently transcribed verbatim. Data analysis will follow Colaizzi's seven-step method, involving independent analysis by three researchers followed by group consensus. To ensure rigour and trustworthiness, strategies such as researcher triangulation, member checking and maintaining an audit trail will be utilised.

The Ethics Committee of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences has granted ethical approval for this study. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences. Furthermore, the results will be shared with nursing faculties and paediatric nursing departments to inform educational practices.