Abstract
Background: Clinical practice is an essential component of nursing education that enables students to apply theoretical knowledge in real healthcare settings. However, nursing students often face various challenges in the clinical learning environment, which can negatively affect their learning experience, confidence, and professional development.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to explore the challenges faced by bachelor’s degree nursing students in the clinical learning environment, to assess the level of these challenges, and to determine the association between challenges in clinical learning and selected demographic variables.
Methods: A community-based descriptive research design was used for this study. The study was conducted at the nursing department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women (PUMHSW), Nawabshah. A total of 80 bachelor’s degree nursing students were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage were used.
Results: The study findings revealed that majority of students (68.8%) faced multiple challenges during clinical practice. Major challenges included poor communication with staff (54%), shyness, lack of staff cooperation (49%), inadequate knowledge of hospital policies (47%), patient rejection, language barriers (41%), and difficulty in linking theoretical knowledge with clinical practice(62%). Many students (60%) reported loss of confidence, reduced motivation, and negative emotional effects due to these challenges.
Conclusion: The study concludes that nursing students experience significant challenges in the clinical learning environment, which adversely affect their clinical performance, confidence, and learning outcomes. An unsupportive clinical environment can reduce students’ interest and commitment to the nursing profession.