Challenges in the clinical education of the nursing profession in Iran: A qualitative study

Abstract

IntroductionClinical education is an important part of nurse training. It provides students with the opportunity to gain useful experience and has a key role in their professional preparation. The importance of clinical education in nursing students' professional performance means that identifying the challenges in this field is crucial. AimThe goal of this study is to identify challenges in the field of clinical nurse education. DesignA qualitative content analysis study. SettingA faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, in Iran 2017. ParticipantsNine student nurses, three qualified nurses and two nursing educators. MethodsThis study has been applied to various depths of interpretation. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. Nine student nurses, three qualified nurses and two nursing educators were interviewed. ResultsThe analysis of the interviews generated five categories. Two main themes were extracted as challenges in the clinical training of nursing professionals: 1. Inefficient educational structure and 2. Inefficient professional performance environment. ConclusionConsidering the inadequate professional performance environment and defective educational structure, designing and delivering lessons with clear goals is essential. Using objective and measurable scales for evaluating educational standards, the use of empowered instructors with high communicational skills is useful for increasing students' motivation and interest toward clinical education and solving existing challenges.