Nursing students' perceptions of difficult or challenging clinical situations

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Skills Development
• Student Support

Background:

• Clinical placements are integral to nursing education.
• Students frequently encounter challenging situations during practical training.
• Effective facilitation is key to navigating these difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore first-year nursing students' perceptions of difficult clinical situations.
• To understand the role of facilitators in assisting students with these challenges.
• To identify effective facilitation strategies for clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses.
• Data collected from first-year nursing students.
• Pre- and post-clinical placement data collection.

Main Results:

• Students identify specific clinical scenarios as difficult or challenging.
• Facilitators play a significant role in helping students manage these situations.
• Specific teaching strategies employed by facilitators are effective.

Conclusions:

• Nursing students experience difficulties in clinical settings.
• Facilitator support is vital for student learning and confidence.
• Targeted pedagogical approaches enhance student resilience in clinical practice.