A STUDY ON CHALLENGES OF NURSING STUDENTS IN THE CLINICAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT OF SELECTED COLLEGE OF NURSING, LUDHIANA, PUNJAB.

Abstract

inical skills are essential and important component in nursing career. Clinical learning environment is a combination of physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual factors which affect the student nurses' clinical skills and growth. Aim:To explore the challenges of the nursing students in the clinical learning environment. Methodology:Aqualitative approach with phenomenological research design was used to assess the challenges of nursing students in the clinical learning environment. Data was collected from a sample of 12 students of B.Sc.(N) 4th year of DMCH College of Nursing, Malakpur, Ludhiana. Sample was collected according to principle of redundancy using non- probability convenience sampling technique. Semi-structured interview guide and audio recorder were used to collect data. The challenges faced by nursing students were assessed by in-depth interview. Analysis was done using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: The study revealed that majority (50 %) of the nursing students were of age 21 years with mean age ± SD of (20.83±0.718), (83.4%) were female, (58.4%) were Sikh, (66.6%) belonged to nuclear family,(83.4%) actual clinical attendance was up to 96-100%, (66.6%) obtained 70-79% marks in their academic performance, (50%) preferred nursing as 1st professional preference, for (41.6%) of the students, the source of motivation for choosing nursing profession was self and parents and (75%) of their family members didn't belong to nursing profession. The data was grouped under 09 main themes i.e.: barriers in clinical learning environment, ineffective planning of clinical experience, ineffective communication, inadequate readiness, psychological response, traditionalism in clinical practice, lack of professional approach, welfare defect and insufcient exposure and these themes were grouped into various subthemes. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study showed that there were undesirable experiences of nursing students in the clinical learning environment. While considering the role of clinical practice in the development of personal and professional skills of nursing students, the results of this study could be helpful in quality improvement in the clinical learning environment. The study aimed to explore the challenges of the nursing students in the clinical learning environment. A qualitative approach with phenomenological research design was used in the study. Data was collected from a sample of 12 students of B.Sc.(N) 4th year of DMCH College of Nursing, Malakpur, Ludhiana. Sample was collected according to principle of redundancy using non- probability convenience sampling technique. Semi-structured interview guide and audio recorder were used to collect data. The challenges faced by nursing students were assessed by in-depth interview. Analysis was done using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Results were grouped under 09 main themes i.e.: barriers in clinical learning environment, ineffective planning of clinical experience, ineffective communication, inadequate readiness, psychological response, traditionalism in clinical practice, lack of professional approach, welfare defect and insufcient exposure and these themes were grouped into various subthemes