Importance of core basic nursing skills achievement by nursing students and demand in the incipient stage of clinical practice as perceived by preceptors

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the level of importance assigned to core basic nursing skills achievement by nursing students who began clinical practice and to investigate the demand of preceptors for guidance on clinical practice. Method: Data were collected from 54 preceptors at general hospitals and local hospitals of S City in South Korea from June to August 2013. Nursing students evaluated by preceptors were junior students who had completed the first two years of education under the 4-year curriculum of a nursing university and had begun their first clinical practice. The evaluation was designed to coincide with their completion of clinical practice in the first semester. Results: The results of this study showed that vital signs was rated the most important core basic nursing skill that nursing students would need to achieve in the incipient stage of clinical practice, whereas pre-operative and post-operative nursing cares were rated the least important. Facilitators of preceptors' instruction/guidance of clinical practice included positive attitudes of students toward clinical practice and adequate previous knowledge of students, while barriers included busy work environments, shortage of educational workers, and passive attitudes of students toward clinical practice. Additional core basic nursing skills required at community clinical sites included infection management and development of personality and professional attitude. Conclusions and Implications: To expand core basic nursing skills capability of nursing students, it is to map out a joint strategy and develop a curriculum in such a way that cooperation between universities (educational institutions) and clinical organizations can be promoted. © Research India Publications.