Nursing students' perspectives of unethical teaching behaviors

This preliminary study set out to collect free response data from nursing students about the nature of unethical teaching behaviors they had encountered in the classroom or clinical setting. Senior nursing students enrolled in three baccalaureate nursing programs were used as subjects. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Unethical teaching behaviors, as described by the subjects, were classified according to three major ethical principles that had been violated: Respect for persons; Justice; and Beneficence. Results revealed that the largest number of unethical teaching behaviors involved violations of respect for students. Findings from this initial investigation will serve as the basis for the development of a structured, scaled instrument that will identify not only the types of unethical teaching behaviors that nursing students encounter, but also their frequency and the degree to which students find these behaviors problematic.     

Nursing practice issues in Jordan: student-suggested causes and solutions

BACKGROUND: The causes of the worldwide shortage of registered nurses are complex and require a multifaceted approach to the solution. It is imperative that issues of the practice environment are addressed because creating quality practice environments is essential to provide high-quality care and to persuade nurses to remain in practice. AIMS: The aims of this paper are to describe an international collaborative relationship, and to identify, describe and suggest solutions to three nursing practice issues relevant to Jordanian nursing. METHOD: Two faculty members, one from Jordan and one from Canada, collaborated via e-mail to develop a fourth-year course on nursing leadership and management, which was then jointly taught by them. A student assignment required students, working in groups, to identify a nursing practice issue in Jordan and suggest contributing causes and solutions. CONCLUSION: The issues identified by the students were: unclear role expectations, burnout and turnover, all of which were viewed as contributing to problematic practice settings. The students suggested possible solutions to the practice environment issues.     

Nursing students' experience of clinical supervision and contributing factors in Jordan

BackgroundAlthough clinical supervision is a vital component of nursing education, data on students' experiences of clinical supervision and contributing factors remain limited.AimThe study explores nursing students' experience of clinical supervision and contributing factors in Jordan.Design/methodsAn explorative design with a qualitative approach using focus group discussions (n = 6) was used. A convenient sample consisting of 48 participants was recruited from second, third and fourth year nursing students. Data were thematically analysed using N VIVO 12.ResultsThe analysis revealed two overlapping experiences. First, the empowering supervision experience comprising: “being willing and patient” and “working hand-in-hand” with students. Second, the disempowering supervision experience, including: abuse of power and grade obsession, incompetent supervision and lack of time detected for students. While the former has positivity which enhanced students' clinical learning, the latter reduced their motivation for gaining knowledge and skills and negatively impacted their self-confidence.ConclusionStudents' experience of clinical supervision is multifaceted. Thus, there is a pressing need for establishing a preparation programme for newly employed supervisors focusing on annual training updates, identifying their competency level and understanding the way their supervisory role is operationalised.     

Nursing students' personal experiences involving alcohol problems

This article discusses the views and beliefs of nursing students toward people who abuse alcohol. An original study published in a separate article [Archives of Psychiatric Nursing , (2003); (4) 17 : 156-164.] examined this relationship with both a quantitative and a qualitative design. Three open-ended questions allowed for further qualitative exploration about relationships with others who have alcohol problems and beliefs about recovery. The chronic nature of alcoholism was clearly identified by students who described it as a lifelong process. Most students (79%) expressed belief that recovery was possible whether they had personal experience with people who have alcohol problems or not. The level of optimism was surprisingly high in this sample of nursing students, especially because many had had a personal experience with someone who abused alcohol. Students come to the educational setting with a clear and accurate view of the lifelong commitment that may be needed to recover from alcohol addiction, but they also come with an overly optimistic view of recovery. How this optimism impacts future care is unknown. If nursing students hold an unrealistically positive view of recovery, they may be ill prepared to handle the disappointments associated with treatment such as relapse, interpersonal conflict, health deterioration, or other related sequelae.     

Nursing students' perceptions of learning in practice environments: a review

Effective clinical learning requires integration of nursing students into ward activities, staff engagement to address individual student learning needs, and innovative teaching approaches. Assessing characteristics of practice environments can provide useful insights for development. This study identified predominant features of clinical learning environments from nursing students' perspectives across studies using the same measure in different countries over the last decade. Six studies, from three different countries, using the Clinical Leaning Environment Inventory (CLEI) were reviewed. Studies explored consistent trends about learning environment. Students rated sense of task accomplishment high. Affiliation also rated highly though was influenced by models of care. Feedback measuring whether students' individual needs and views were accommodated consistently rated lower. Across different countries students report similar perceptions about learning environments. Clinical learning environments are most effective in promoting safe practice and are inclusive of student learners, but not readily open to innovation and challenges to routine practices.     

Implementing dedicated nursing clinical education unit: Nursing students' and preceptors' perspectives

BackgroundThe Dedicated Education Unit is a clinical learning model designated to deliver more targeted learning opportunities and enhance student nurses learning capacity. It provides students with more opportunities to develop their skills, experience different learning events, consolidate their knowledge, and build their professional nursing identity.MethodsThe study followed a convergent parallel mixed-method design to investigate the nursing students and the nursing preceptors' perceptions of the Dedicated Education Unit model at Mafraq hospital. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a sample of sixty-seven nursing students and 20 nursing preceptors from March to May 2019.ResultsThe overall results of the study were positive. Nursing preceptors were confident to communicate and constructively interact, motivate, and facilitate students' learning. However, they requested better support and more free time to supervise and answer students' questions. Nursing students reported positive learning at the dedicated units. However, they requested more support from nursing preceptors.ConclusionImplementing a Dedicated Education Unit model supported the nursing preceptors' role and enhanced nursing students' learning opportunities and hands-on experiences. Achieving a positive effect of the dedicated nursing clinical education unit requires constant collaboration between healthcare facilities and nursing education programs to maximize nursing students learning.     

Nursing students' self-perceptions as insiders in the practice culture

Nursing students must be able to function comfortably, confidently, and competently within the culture of nursing when they graduate. Although different models of clinical teaching are used to acculturate undergraduate nursing students to their professional practice roles, it is not known to what extent acculturation is affected by these models. The two-fold purpose of this study was to compare self-perceptions as insiders of students involved in preceptored and instructor led clinical experiences and to identify factors contributing to students self-perceptions as insiders. Using a non-equivalent group’s prepost- test design, 38 undergraduate students, participated either in traditional instructor led practicums or summer externships. In addition to a background questionnaire, students completed an investigator generated perceptions of self in the clinical practice culture scale prior to, and at the end of, their clinical experiences. Findings revealed that both groups of students demonstrated significant changes in their self-perceptions as insiders as a result of their clinical experiences but there was no significant interaction effect of clinical teaching model and time on students’ insider self-perceptions. Students identified multiple factors that influenced their insider perceptions. Implications of these finding are discussed.     

The problems of interprofessional healthcare practice in hospitals

This article outlines the problems of interprofessional practice in the hospital setting. It examines the difficulties associated with competing ideologies and aims, inequalities in power relations, communication and role confusion and overlap. Within the hospital setting such problems often arise although the roots of the problem may go unacknowledged. The ways in which the problems occur in the hospital setting are considered, as is the underlying cause of such problems. Case studies will be used to analyse how the problems arise and ways in which they might be addressed.     

Nursing students' preparedness and practice in critical care settings: A scoping review

BackgroundDue to the demanding nature of critical care settings, students are prone to experience stress and lack of confidence, which hinders their learning and affects patient care. Educators should be knowledgeable about students' roles, stressors, and challenges as well as strategies to enhance students' competence and confidence to efficiently practice in critical care.PurposeTo map and analyze the literature about nursing students' placement, preparedness, and practice in critical care settings and identified areas for future research and practice.MethodsA scoping review using PRISMA guidelines. The literature was searched within eight databases using indexed terms. In total, 32 sources were selected for review. Literature summary tables, thematic synthesis, narrative summaries were used for data extraction and synthesis.FindingsThree themes and 12 sub-themes were generated. The themes included students' experiences and perspectives about critical care placements, strategies to enhance student learning, and the impact of clinical placements and teaching strategies on students.ConclusionsCritical care placements allow students in understanding the care of complex patients, enhancing their observational skills, and improving their interpersonal relationships in critical care teams. To enhance student preparedness for effective practice, high fidelity simulations and course-based teaching have been demonstrated to be effective.     

Nursing students' early exposure to clinical practice: an innovation in curriculum development

This paper describes a pilot study addressing issues surrounding the balance and status given to both theory and practice in the foundation part of a pre-registration programme.Contemporary thinking seems to suggest that there is a need to reverse recent trends which have placed an emphasis on theory. To facilitate this a framework for clinical learning was adapted to guide students' early exposure to clinical practice. The focus was to develop the students' observational and reflective skills whilst also providing the students with a frame of reference within which they could explore their theoretical studies.The information and experiences gained as a result of this study have led to the integration of an Orientation Framework to support students' early clinical experiences in a pre-registration programme.     

Nursing students' attitudes to health promotion to: implications for teaching practice

For several decades now the World Health Organization has indicated the need for a reorientation of the health services away from focusing solely on illness and disease to one that considers both disease prevention and health promotion. Successive publications that guide public health policy both nationally and internationally reiterate the need for health promotion and the principles of health for all to become integral to the fabric of health care delivery. The role of the nurse as health promoters is well recognized. However despite acknowledgement by professional nursing bodies and nurse educators that health promotion forms a central tenet of undergraduate nurse education curricula, there are varied approaches to teaching and learning and little formal evaluation of the consequences of approaches taken. The aims of this study are to identify current health promotion curricular content within the Irish undergraduate nursing programme context; to measure nursing students' attitudes towards health promotion and to examine nursing students' reported lifestyle behaviours.     

Nursing students' first-time experiences in pediatric clinical practice in Taiwan: A qualitative study

BackgroundA pediatric nursing practicum is essential in equipping students with basic knowledge of theory, professional attitudes, and skills for the clinical setting. However, students often face multiple challenges in the practicum due to gaps between theory and practice.PurposeTo describe nursing students' first-time experiences in pediatric clinical practice in Taiwan.MethodsA phenomenological approach with purposive sampling was used. Twenty participants were interviewed individually, in person, within a month of completion of a pediatric nursing practicum. Interviews were semi-structured and digitally recorded. Data analysis followed Colaizzi's methods; epochs (bracketing) focused analysis on students' experiences and maintained objectivity.FindingsThree themes and related subthemes emerged: (a) orienting to the pediatric unit (becoming familiar with common treatments and surroundings in the pediatric unit; recognizing people in the unit); (b) encountering challenges in pediatric and family-centered care (navigating communication between child and families; student nurse-patient relationships: maintaining a good rapport with children and their families; being prepared for quick role changes); (c) translating knowledge into clinical practice thoughtfully (providing desirable and correct responses for children and their families; providing a safe and friendly environment for children and their families).ConclusionsStudent nurses engaged in a variety of care practices necessitated by patients' differing ages, developmental levels, and family needs. Ensuring students' successful completion of the demanding pediatric practicum, including innovative communication, technical skills, and role transitions, is challenging yet achievable.Clinical relevanceGaining a fuller understanding of nursing students' experiences in the pediatric nursing practicum can assist nursing professionals in preparing students to provide competent care for children and their families.