ursing Students’ and Instructors’ Viewpoints Regarding Professional Abilities of Students in Internship Program at Tabriz University of Medical Science

Introduction: Most of previous studies have focused on factors affecting learning during nursing educational program, and a few researches have been conducted on students’ achievements. The present research aimed to determine nursing students’ and instructors’ viewpoints regarding the level of skills gained by students during internship in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive study conducted in 2003, 74 bachelor nursing students attending internship program and 33 instructors were selected using census method of sampling. A researcher made questionn-aire with five point Likert scale and including 96 questions was distributed as self-administered. The questionnaire covered a variety of dimensions such as providing services for patients, patient care, patient safety, management skills, quality improvement, and patient education. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using frequency distribution, and Chi2. Results: The achieved professional abilities in all dimensions were not satisfactory. There was a significant difference between students’ and instructors’ viewpoints, on the level of professional skills in patients’ services, patient care, management skills, quality improvement, and patient education. Conclusion: Students’ professional abilities during internship program were not optimum. The gap is probably due to the absence of good, supportive and incentive environment, or due to the lack of appropriate stewardship and management mechanisms.