Limited opportunity for nursing students to perform practical nursing skills during clinical placements: a Scandinavian cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Practical nursing skills are complex actions performed daily in nursing practice. Structured learning and repeated practice help students develop clinical competence. Clinical placements are pivotal in learning, with factors such as educational context, preceptor availability, and time constraints shaping students' learning opportunities.

OBJECTIVES

To describe nursing students' opportunities to perform practical skills during clinical placements.

DESIGN AND

SETTING

A quantitative cross-sectional study conducted in 2023 involved 706 nursing students from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Data were collected via a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Students reported substantial variations in the practical skills performed during clinical placements. Overall, the frequency of skills performance was low across all years and domains, including practical nursing skills concerning respiration, circulation, elimination, nutrition, activity, skin care, and medication. Supervision was generally available, though some skills lacked adequate preceptor involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights disparities in nursing students' opportunities to practice essential skills during clinical placements. The lack of practice across a wide range of skills may compromise the quality and thoroughness of nursing education, affecting the students' professional preparedness.