A learning curve for nurse interns in clinical practice in Saudi Arabia

6^th World Nursing and Healthcare Conference

August 15-17, 2016 London, UK

Grace Lindsay and Hayam Asfour

Faculty of Nursing, Umm Al-Qura University, KSA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Introduction: Following successful completion of diploma and degree nursing programmes, prospective qualified nurses require to complete a hospital-based, clinically supervised practice programme as an �intern�, �apprentice� or �mentee�. In common with many countries across the World, nurse interns in Saudi Arabia join specifically designed programmes, provided across a range of clinical settings and guided by clinical learning objectives with mentorship from qualified nurses. Feedback on the experience of interns as they begin to apply their previous learning in a range of clinical areas is important for understanding their challenges in practice, the learning gaps and the needs for preparation of future nurses. Aim: To explore interns� experience of clinical practice following a six month Internship programme for newly graduated nurses. Setting: An acute care hospital setting, in a selected hospital, Saudi Arabia. Participants: Diploma prepared nurses in final month of six month internship programme. Methods: A qualitative method, using one-to-one interviews, was used to explore the views of interns learning experience in clinical practice, focussing on their learning experiences as they prepare to be clinical competent new nursing practitioners. Thematic analysis of accounts of their insights and experiences was performed. Results: Pilot data are presented from initial interviews (n=4). Six preliminary main thematic areas were identified namely; �interactive nature of health education with patients�; �using lay terminology; �recognition of patient information boundaries�; �more therapeutic communication/engagement with patients during care delivery/ procedures; �complexity of real-life care�; �participating in team care delivery� Conclusions: The accounts from interns highlighted their new experiences being grounded in the application of knowledge and classroom learned practice, to real life care; dealing with patients as interactive recipients of care, the complexity of more than one procedure being undertaken within a single episode of care and working as part of a team.

Biography :

Grace Lindsay is a member of academic staff at the College of Nursing, Umm Al Qura University. She has worked for a period of more than 20 years as a nurse educator and researcher in the UK, North America and is currently based in Saudi Arabia. Her research interests are drawn from naturalist perspectives using both qualitative and quantitative methods in a range of nursing education and practice contexts.

Email: gracelindsay@gmail.com