The role of the clinical environment and supervision in students’ satisfaction with rotation practice experience in the University for Development Studies.

Abstract

Clinical rotation experience is an integral part of the nursing curriculum and crucial component of nursing education, which transforms theoretical knowledge to practice. However, due to the complex nature of the clinical learning environment as a social entity, it often influences student-learning experience. This study was to assess the role of clinical learning environment and supervision in Nursing and Midwifery students’ satisfaction with rotation practice experience in University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale. A cross-sectional analytic survey design was used to assess students’ satisfaction with clinical rotation experience from UDS Tamale campus. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling technique. SPSS was used to analyze data, using frequencies, percentages, and means. Inferential statistics such as Fisher’s exact test, linear regression and Spearman’s Correlation were used. The result showed that the level of nursing and midwifery students’ satisfaction with clinical rotation experience was high (65.6%). Similarly, the level of students’ satisfaction with the clinical supervision and clinical learning environment were also high (60.3% and 63.5% respectively). The major factors identified, that influence students clinical rotation experience were clinical supervision, clinical learning environment and its dimensions (pedagogical atmosphere of the ward environment, leadership style of nurse manager, and premises of nursing in the ward). These findings call for the need for nurse educators and clinicians to pay more attention to the areas highlighted in this study.