Through the eyes of the nursing students: Best practices in clinical facilitation

16^th Clinical Nursing & Nurse Education Conference

November 21-22, 2016 Melbourne, Australia

Immaculate Sabelile Muthathi, Hilary Thurling and Sue Armstrong

University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Background: Clinical teaching is considered an essential part of the undergraduate nursing curriculum. A number of studies address the issue of clinical teaching in South Africa, focusing on the experiences of nursing students during their clinical practicum, within these studies negative experiences by nursing students has been documented. There is a lack of knowledge regarding what students perceive as best practice in clinical facilitation of their learning. Aim: The study aimed to explore and describe the perceptions of undergraduate nursing students, regarding the best practice of clinical facilitation of their learning, in clinical practicum. Research Methodology: The research methodology includes a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, exploring the views of the undergraduate nursing students regarding best practice clinical facilitation of their learning in an academic hospital. Purposive sampling was used resulting in three focus groups of second, third and fourth year nursing students who were currently enrolled for their bachelor of nursing degree at a selected nursing education institution in Johannesburg. Interviews were recorded verbatim, field notes were made and thematic data analysis method was used. Main Findings: Optimization of small groups during skills demonstrations was highlighted as best practices for clinical learning in the nursing skills laboratory. Standardization of procedures between the university and the clinical practice areas and availability of nurse educators from the university to support the nursing students in the clinical areas were identified as facilitating factors for learning in the patient care areas as well as the methods of learning such as nursing rounds and interprofessional discussion.

Biography :

Email: sabelile.muthathi@wits.ac.za