Presentation
Student Perceptions Regarding an Alternative Senior Practicum Experience
WIN 40th Annual Communicating Nursing Research Conference
(2010)
Abstract
Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the perception of baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in a Senior Practicum course following the implementation of an alternative clinical experience. Background: Senior Practicum experiences are common in baccalaureate nursing programs as an opportunity to integrate classroom education experience into the practice setting. These experiences traditionally are precepted learning experiences. During the 2008-2009 academic year faculty at this university were unable to locate a sufficient number of qualified preceptors for students enrolled in the Senior Practicum course. After exploring options to meet the course requirements for course and recognizing the co-existing nursing faculty shortage, a plan was developed to place these senior practicum students were placed with faculty who were teaching sophomore-level nursing courses. These senior nursing students acted as teaching assistants for the clinical instructors. Anecdotally, the alternative experience seemed effective in meeting the needs of the students, but further validation regarding the experience was needed. Methods: After receiving IRB approval from the university, a survey was sent to all senior nursing students (n=67) using Survey Monkey. Students were asked about their ability to meet course objectives and their overall satisfaction with their Senior Practicum experience. The intent of this survey was to compare the experiences of the two groups in terms of their overall satisfaction and their perceived ability to meet the course objectives. Survey responses were compiled using a crosstab format to allow comparison between those students in the traditional senior practicum experience and those in the alternative experience. Results: Seventy percent (n=47) of the senior students completed the survey. In terms of course objectives, both groups were overall satisfied with their ability to meet the course objectives. When asked about overall satisfaction with their clinical experience, students in the traditional, nurse clinician group were more satisfied (94.3%) than the nurse educator group (72.8%). Students were also asked to rate their ability to perform specific nursing role functions including Nurse Educator, Nurse Researcher, Nursing Practice, and Nursing Leadership. Students were also asked to rate their confidence in specific nursing actions, including communication, patient care, interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical decision-making. With the exception of the Nurse Educator role, results for role performance were comparable in the two groups. Students in the teaching assistant option were more satisfied in the nurse educator role (91%) than their nurse clinician counterparts (51.4%). Skills confidence was higher for the nurse clinician group in every action except for clinical decision-making; these results were essentially equal between the two groups. Implications: There are several limitations to this study. The sample was small and there was no attempt at experimental control. The results were based on the perceptions of senior nursing students and not on measurable outcomes of success. Future research is needed that includes more rigorous experimental control, a larger sample size, and outcome measures that can be quantified. Budgetary constraints and limited clinical placements will continue to plague nurse educators and challenge them to develop and implement creative quality clinical learning experiences for their students.
Disciplines
Publication Date
April, 2010
Citation Information
Debbie Wilson and Denise Dawkins. "Student Perceptions Regarding an Alternative Senior Practicum Experience" WIN 40th Annual Communicating Nursing Research Conference (2010) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/denise-dawkins/13/