Finnish and Swedish nursing students' experiences of their first clinical practice placement — A qualitative study

SummaryBackgroundNursing is a practice-based discipline. Clinical practice settings are important in preparing undergraduate nursing students for the role of registered nurse.AimThe aim of this Nordic qualitative study is to illuminate first year undergraduate nursing students' experiences of clinical practice during their first clinical placement, with a focus on preception, reflection, and the link between theory and practice.MethodData were collected by focus group interviews with 22 nursing students, and analyzed with qualitative content analysis.FindingsPositive experiences included stimulating and visible preceptors, a permissive atmosphere, and reflection as a matter of course. Negative experiences were related to feelings of abandonment and powerlessness when preceptors were invisible and the atmosphere at the ward was non-permissive. The implementation of research-based knowledge was insufficient.ConclusionsA permissive atmosphere and visible preceptors are crucial if learning is to be maximized. Consequently, it is important to set aside time for preceptors to be more visible and to make the atmosphere at the clinical placement more permissive. The student must have the opportunity to combine scientific knowledge with evidence-based knowledge in order to develop nursing actions.