Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Satisfaction Level with their Clinical Learning Experiences in Multan, Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Clinical experience is an integral part of nursing education. Obtaining quality clinical experiences in a supportive and pedagogically calibrated clinical learning environment is a significant concern for nursing institutions. The quality of clinical learning reveals the quality of the curriculum structure. Therefore, it is important to investigate students’ clinical learning experiences to produce competent future nurses. Objective: This study aimed to measure the undergraduate nursing students’ satisfaction level with their clinical learning experiences in government and private college of Nursing in Multan, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: A quantitative approach, with analytical cross-sectional design, was used. A sample of 191 undergraduate nursing students participated in the study. Data was collected using the CLES+T evaluation scale. Online Google survey forms were used to collect data, due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Result: The study findings revealed that students were satisfied with their clinical learning experiences. Students’ overall mean satisfaction score was 3.54 + 0.93 and significant (p<0.05) difference was found in the satisfaction score between the government and private undergraduate nursing students. Attending pre and post-conferences, faculty visit to students’ clinical placement, electronic communication between students and clinical faculty, and environment of clinical placement were the associated factors found with students’ satisfaction. The findings revealed that a meaningful clinical learning environment motivates students to continue nursing as their career choice. Conclusion: This study concluded that, overall, students were satisfied with their clinical learning experiences, however, satisfaction varied according to the type of college and year of study.