Integrated Clinical Experience on Clinical Skills and Self-Esteem

Background: The need for new clinical teaching models to provide quality experiences for student nurses to bridge the theory practice gap has been realized long back. Newer preceptorship models like integrated clinical experience (ICE) can develop competence and confidence. The process of learning clinical decision making must be practiced during nursing education programs. Objective: To evaluate the perceived effect of ICE on clinical skills and self-esteem among undergraduate nursing students. Method: Quantitative, One group pre test post-test design. Data was collected from 139 final year undergraduate nursing students using total enumerative sampling. The students were given clinical experience continuously for a month in one clinical area in two shifts under a professional registered nurse. The students’ perceptions on clinical skills were assessed usinga self developed Questionnaire and self esteem using Rosenberg self-esteem scale before and after ICE. Results: The perceived effect of ICE on all the twenty clinical skills and self esteem were found to be statistically significant (p value <0.001). The pre and post percentages of the sample on three levels of self esteem were – low self esteem 8.6/ 2.2, normal 90.7/ 84.9 andhigh 0.7/ 12.9. Conclusion: ICE can smoothen the role transition from student to professional nurse as it affects the clinical skills and self esteem which are central to clinical decision making. However the preceptor’s attributes, competency and training on preceptorship are influencing factors to be ensured for better outcomes