Nursing students' perceptions of learning nursing skills in the ambulance service

Several previous studies have explored nursing students' perceptions of clinical learning at hospitals and in other health care facilities, but there are few studies exploring nursing students' perceptions of the clinical learning in the ambulance service. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore nursing students' perceptions of learning nursing skills in the ambulance service. An inductive qualitative study design with two focus group interviews and content analysis was used. Two themes were identified. The first theme, professional skills, included: Assessment, Prioritizing and initiating care, and Medical treatment and evaluation of interventions. The second theme, a holistic approach to the care included: Cultural, social, and ethical aspects of caring, Decision-making in collaboration with patients, and Care provided in the patients' home. Conclusion: The ambulance service provides a learning environment where the students face a multifaceted picture of health and illness. This learning environment helps nursing students to learn independently how to use professional nursing skills and how to care by employing a holistic approach. However, further research is needed to explore if and how this knowledge about nursing and caring in the ambulance service is useful when working as a Registered Nurse in other health care settings.