Yenna Salamonson1, Bronwyn Everett2, Elizabeth Halcomb3, Marie Hutchinson4, Debra Jackson5, Judy Mannix6, Kath Peters7, Roslyn Weaver8. 1. University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: y.salamonson@uws.edu.au. 2. University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: b.everett@uws.edu.au. 3. University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: ehalcomb@uow.edu.au. 4. Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia. Electronic address: marie.hutchinson@scu.edu.au. 5. University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: debra.jackson@uts.edu.au. 6. University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: j.mannix@uws.edu.au. 7. University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: k.peters@uws.edu.au. 8. University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: r.weaver@uws.edu.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Clinical placement is an essential part of nursing education, and students' experiences on clinical placement can affect the quality of their learning. Understanding nursing students' positive and negative perceptions of clinical placement experience is therefore important. OBJECTIVES: To describe nursing students' satisfaction with their clinical placement experiences and identify any variations in satisfaction based on demographic characteristics. DESIGN: Mixed methods - online survey with qualitative items. SETTING: Four universities in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Students (n=213) enrolled in an undergraduate nursing degree. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2012, students completed online surveys following their clinical placement experiences. The surveys included demographic questions and the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (CLEI-19), a 19-item tool measuring students' satisfaction with clinical placement. The surveys included two open-ended questions asking students to share their most satisfying and challenging experiences whilst on placement. Descriptive statistics and thematic analyses were undertaken. RESULTS: Of the 213 participants, those in health-related employment and those with English as an additional language (EAL) were less satisfied with the clinical facility and with clinical facilitator support respectively, as indicated by the CLEI-19 subscale scores. Qualitative findings showed students were positive about the opportunity to make a difference and be involved in nursing, and negative about clinical facilitator support. Nevertheless, those who were most critical in their written comments about their placement were those who only spoke English at home. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study found overall satisfaction with clinical placement, the lower satisfaction reported by students in health-related employment, and the mixed findings regarding language spoken and satisfaction, warrant further attention.
BACKGROUND: Clinical placement is an essential part of nursing education, and students' experiences on clinical placement can affect the quality of their learning. Understanding nursing students' positive and negative perceptions of clinical placement experience is therefore important. OBJECTIVES: To describe nursing students' satisfaction with their clinical placement experiences and identify any variations in satisfaction based on demographic characteristics. DESIGN: Mixed methods - online survey with qualitative items. SETTING: Four universities in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Students (n=213) enrolled in an undergraduate nursing degree. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2012, students completed online surveys following their clinical placement experiences. The surveys included demographic questions and the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (CLEI-19), a 19-item tool measuring students' satisfaction with clinical placement. The surveys included two open-ended questions asking students to share their most satisfying and challenging experiences whilst on placement. Descriptive statistics and thematic analyses were undertaken. RESULTS: Of the 213 participants, those in health-related employment and those with English as an additional language (EAL) were less satisfied with the clinical facility and with clinical facilitator support respectively, as indicated by the CLEI-19 subscale scores. Qualitative findings showed students were positive about the opportunity to make a difference and be involved in nursing, and negative about clinical facilitator support. Nevertheless, those who were most critical in their written comments about their placement were those who only spoke English at home. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study found overall satisfaction with clinical placement, the lower satisfaction reported by students in health-related employment, and the mixed findings regarding language spoken and satisfaction, warrant further attention.