Teaching practice experiences of nursing students: a comparison between direct entry and generic students of department of nursing science, University of Calabar

Abstract

An essential part of the nurse education programs is to facilitate the linking of theory to practice. Teaching practice experiences of nursing student provide greater insight to develop effective classroom and clinical teaching strategies in nursing. This paper described teaching practice experiences of nursing students, expectations and benefits for effective learning. The study simulated the complexities of life in a typical classroom that facilitates learning characterized by an acceptance of responsibility and clinical decision making in nursing practice using a mixed research design. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 0ne hundred and fifteen (115) students, 38 direct entry and 77 generic fourth year students while ten students (five direct and five generic) participated in the focused group discussion (FGD). Descriptive data were analyzed using SPSS vision 18 to obtain frequencies, percentages mean and standard deviation and chi square findings. The FGD based on their categories were divided into two groups. The data collected was analyzed by coding and categorizing the themes that emerged. Quantitative analysis revealed significant (**p<0.001) chi square rejecting the null hypotheses at 0.05 with probabilities less than 0.001. This shows that nursing students’ experiences, expectations and benefits are significantly derived from teaching practice although contingent on the mode of entry into the university (Direct entry and Generic entry). It is concluded that teaching practice is a motivating and challenging method that necessitates learning of facts, principles and procedures for effective development of decision-making skills that assist nursing students assume responsibility. It is recommended that more time be allotted for this important exercise especially for generic students.

KEYWORDS: Nursing Student, Teaching Experiences, Expectation, benefits, Teaching Practice