Nurs Health Sci. 2021 Jun;23(2):398-410. doi: 10.1111/nhs.12819. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Clinical learning environment and graduating nursing students' competence: A multi-country cross-sectional study.

Nursing & health sciences

Laura Visiers-Jiménez, Arja Suikkala, Leena Salminen, Helena Leino-Kilpi, Eliisa Löyttyniemi, Maria Adriana Henriques, Maria Jiménez-Herrera, Jana Nemcová, Daniel Pedrotti, Marília Rua, Cristina Tommasini, Renáta Zeleníková, Satu Kajander-Unkuri

PMID: 33522682 DOI: 10.1111/nhs.12819

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore nursing students' perceptions of their final clinical learning environment and its association with their self-assessed competence, satisfaction with nursing education, and turnover intentions at graduation in six European countries. A multi-country comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with nursing students (n = 1746) from the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain using the Nurse Competence Scale and the Clinical Learning Environment and Supervision scale. Nursing students' overall perceptions of their final clinical learning environment and supervision were positive in all the countries studied. The correlation between the students' perceptions of their final clinical learning environment and competence was statistically significant and positive. Satisfaction with the nursing program and clinical practicum and no consideration of career change were related to positive perceptions of the final clinical learning environment. Highlighting the importance of the supervisory relationship and pedagogical atmosphere, nursing students' positive perceptions of the final clinical learning environment and supervision contribute to a better level of self-assessed competence and satisfaction with the nursing program and clinical practicum, leading to lower turnover intentions.

© 2021 The Authors. Nursing & Health Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Keywords: clinical learning environment; clinical practicum; competence; nursing education; nursing students; turnover intentions

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MeSH terms

• Clinical Competence*
• Cross-Cultural Comparison
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Curriculum
• Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate*
• Humans
• Students, Nursing / psychology*
• Surveys and Questionnaires

Publication Types

• Journal Article

Grant support

• Finnish Nursing Education Foundation
• Finnish Operating Room Nurses Association