Lunic Base Khoza
University of Venda, South Africa
Title: Student nurses perceptions of clinical learning experience
Biography
Biography: Lunic Base Khoza
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to obtain the nursing students’ perceptions of clinical learning experiences. Nursing students following the course leading to registration as a nurse general, psychiatric and community) and midwife at the University of Venda constituted the target population. The study used a qualitative descriptive survey to provide insight into the situation. The population was all students studying at the University of Venda and following the four year degree in nursing science. A non-probability purposive sampling was employed to sample 45 participants variably from each level of study. Data was collected from the students through focus group interviews. Participation was voluntary as the study was not interested in obtaining information about a particular clinical setting where learning experiences occur.
Findings indicate that nursing students are aware of the value of the contribution that clinical learning experiences make to their development of professional socialisation. Nursing students regard a patient as the central focus of their clinical learning experiences, they are able to identify those factors which could promote and enhance and those which could hinder or be detrimental to their learning in the clinical setting. However, proper guidance and support from their superiors appears to fall short. There appears to be a need to assist both students and clinical nurse practitioners to increase their understanding with regard to their roles and mutual expectations in the clinical field.