Abstract
Introduction: Exposure to the clinical learning environment is indispensable for the nursing students as it provides experiences which are basic and significant to the development of professional skills as well as bridge the theory-practice gap. Despite the importance of clinical learning, nursing students’ attitudes in the clinical environment has been a concern.Purpose: This paper reviewed the attitude of nursing students towards work in the clinical learning environment.Method: Electronic searches using scholarly databases were employed and only significant articles that met the review objective were utilized.Findings: This review revealed that there is a high rate of unauthorized student nurses’ absenteeism as majority are absent from clinical work without permission. There is also an appalling display of lateness behavior as students arrive at work after the scheduled time. Interestingly, most students are willing to carry out procedures while some are nonchalant due to the stressful and anxiety provoking tasks. Student nurses felt that there is an unspoken comparison, discrimination and disrespect displayed by their seniors and medical colleagues towards them.Conclusion: There is overwhelming evidence from literature supporting the negative attitudes of nursing students in the clinical environment. It was therefore recommended that students should be psychologically prepared in their schools before exposure to the clinical environment. There should be an effort to build students’ self-esteem and professional self-concept by the relevant authorities. Finally, to bridge the rift between inter-professionals, there is need for more social interaction opportunities where everyone will value what each member contributes to the team.
Highlights
Exposure to the clinical learning environment is indispensable for the nursing students as it provides experiences which are basic and significant to the development of professional skills as well as bridge the theory-practice gap
There is overwhelming evidence from literature supporting the negative attitudes of nursing students in the clinical environment
According to Tiwaken, Caranto and David (2015), student nurses must be exposed to both facets and one of the best ways of realizing this is by giving them the opportunity to put what they have learnt in the classroom into practice through clinical placement in the various clinical settings such as hospitals wards, primary health care institutions, special clinics, communities and nursing homes, comprehensive care clinics/patients support clinics, maternal and child welfare clinics etc. under the strict direction and supervision of faculty members, instructors, preceptors and nurse clinicians (Mugoh & Kamau 2020; Nabolsia, et al, 2012)
Summary
Exposure to the clinical learning environment is indispensable for the nursing students as it provides experiences which are basic and significant to the development of professional skills as well as bridge the theory-practice gap. Berntsen, Brynildsen and Hestetun (2014) assert that legally, exposing nursing students to practice in a clinical environment is a requirement to ensure fitness to practice as a nurse while Lapeña-Moñux, et al (2016) opined that clinical placements for undergraduate nursing students provide experiences which are basic and significant to the development of student professional skills and development. It enhances their ability to marry theoretical knowledge with cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills required in client care. Students’ perception of clinical work vary, some view clinical placements as the most important aspect of their training while others see it as stressful but rewarding (Bjørk et al, 2014)
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