More than half of nursing students say they cannot freely ask questions during clinical placements, while dedicated teaching time remains limited, a recent survey found.
The findings have fueled calls for the introduction of a “dedicated clinical practice nurse” system to improve the quality of hands-on training.
The Korean Nursing Student Association (KNSA) released the results of its survey on clinical practice and dedicated practice nurses. The survey ran from March 29 to April 8 and included 1,371 nursing students nationwide, including those on leave. Of these, 524 had prior clinical training experience.
The Korean Nursing Student Association released survey results on clinical training and the need for dedicated practice nurses. (Photo generated by Google Gemini)
Most respondents supported a dedicated clinical practice nurse system; 1,287 said it would help bridge classroom learning and clinical practice, while only 12 opposed it.
Students with clinical experience were mainly trained at university hospitals, secondary hospitals, or health centers. Their instruction came mostly from staff nurses, head nurses, or university clinical instructors. Only 31 of 524 students said they had received guidance from a nurse dedicated to clinical education.
The survey also highlighted a lack of structured teaching time. The largest group of respondents (217) reported receiving less than one hour of dedicated instruction per week. Another 130 reported one to two hours, while 76 said there was no separate teaching time at all. Smaller numbers reported two to three hours (54 students) or more than three hours (47 students). Overall, the findings indicate a shortage of systematic educational support, with existing sessions typically limited to ward orientation, debriefing, and basic skills instruction.
There was also a gap between learning objectives and actual training. While 163 said practice matched their guidance, 129 said it did not.
Students also raised concerns about the clinical environment. Among those with hands-on experience, 267 said they could not ask questions freely, compared with 117 who felt the environment was open.
Direct participation in nursing activities was limited. Most students performed basic tasks or observed, while only 38 of 524 participated in advanced procedures.
To support adoption of a dedicated clinical practice nurse system, the association called for structured hospital-based education, government support for staffing, stronger school–hospital cooperation, improved societal perceptions of trainees, and enhanced training programs for nurses.
Kim Jung-hyun
댓글
0