STUDENT’S PERCEPTION TOWARDS CLINICAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT A MEDICAL COLLEGE, CHITWAN

Abstract

Background: Clinical learning environment is an environment where the nursing student is systematically exposed in simulation laboratories and with real patients to learn and practice on their own for better clinical outcomes leading to quality nursing services. This study aimed to assess the nursing students’ perception towards clinical learning environment. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 98 nursing students studying in Generic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B. Sc. Nursing) and Bachelor in Nursing Sciences (BNS) in School of Nursing, Chitwan Medical College, selected using probability stratified proportionate random sampling technique. Structured self- administered questionnaire; Modified Clinical Learning Environment Inventory was used to collect the data and analyzed using Chi-Square test. Results: The findings of the study revealed that, median age of student was 22 years with the range of 19-29 years. Majority of students (64.3%) were from academic program Bachelor of Science in Nursing and 84.7% studied nursing on their own will. Study showed that majority of students (74.5%) had positive perception towards clinical learning environment and the level of perception was found to have statistically significant association with adequacy of patient flow during posting, availability of articles for clinical procedure and use of different clinical teaching methods such as bed side presentation and simulation (p<0.05). Conclusions: Nearly three fourth of the students have positive perception towards clinical learning environment. Many factors such as availability of adequate number of patients, adequate resources tend to influence clinical learning environment. The study results suggest the need of using clinical teaching methods to improve the clinical learning.