Student's perception of clinical learning environment

Introduction: Clinical education plays a key role in nursing. Clinical learning environment is one of the most important well-known factors for being successful in nursing educational programs. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of clinical learning environment among nursing students in Jiroft and Kerman Universities of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 133 students of the Faculties of Nursing in Kerman and Jiroft Universities of Medical Sciences in 2013-14 academic years. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire. It was developed by employing studies of Chiu Yuen Han, Saarikoski, Kachiwala and Skaalvik its validity and reliability were verified by validity coefficient (0.8) and test-retest method and correlation coefficient (0.74) respectively. The questionnaire’s six-point scale, rated as absolutely appropriate, appropriate, slightly appropriate, slightly inappropriate, inappropriate, and absolutely inappropriate which were scored from 0 to 5. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics test, t test, ANOVA and Pearson test. Results: The mean of total scores obtained from clinical learning environment perception was 2.79±0.63 out of 5. The lowest score was for personnel’s support (2.24±1.18) and the highest score was for supervision communication (3.01±1.08). The means of total scores obtained from perception of clinical learning environment differed significantly in male and female students (t=2.297, p=0.023) and for second, third and fourth year students (f=3.43, p=0.035). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that nursing students’ perception of clinical learning environment was average. It is accordingly suggested that successful management models of wards should be considered in order to empower students’ learning and teamwork in all clinical wards.