Factors associated with registered nursing students' satisfaction with the clinical learning environment at the University Teaching Hospitals(UTH) Lusaka,Zambia

Abstract

Clinical learning is an integral part of nursing training and forms a foundation of competence development in nursing practice. In an attempt to produce competent and skilled registered nurses, more hours have been allocated for clinical learning practice than the theory in the new curriculum for registered nurse training. Nursing education involves both theoretical and practical training as students are expected to gain the knowledge and competencies before progressing and completing their three year training diploma program. The main objective of the study was to assess factors associated with registered nursing students’ satisfaction with the clinical learning environment at the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) Lusaka, Zambia.

A cross sectional study design was used to elicit registered nursing students’ satisfaction with the clinical learning environment. The total sample size was 329 final year nursing students from four different nursing colleges within Lusaka, who were selected using a simple random sampling method. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, entered and analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 program. Confidence interval was set at 95%. A 5% level of significance was set, only p values of 0.05 or less were considered statistically significant. The Chi-Square test, Bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to test for associations between the dependent and independent variables. The study findings revealed that 302 (92%) of students were not satisfied with the clinical learning environment at the University Teaching Hospitals, while only 27 (8%) were satisfied. Related factors which influenced satisfaction were clinical environment, the relationship that existed between mentors and mentees/ ward staff, availability of human and material resources, knowledge, attitude and skills of mentors on mentorship and supervision of students. The results showed that registered nursing students were not satisfied with the clinical learning environment at the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) Lusaka, Zambia. Their experiences ranged from uncaring attitude from qualified staff, inadequate equipment and staffing, inadequate clinical supervision and non-availability of mentors in the wards. Therefore there is need for policy makers to address some factors within the clinical environment and clinical supervision which hinders clinical skills acquisition and affect the quality of the nurses being trained. Registered nursing students, satisfaction, clinical learning environment, clinical supervision and student related factors.