Clinical experiences of RN to BScN nursing students in Kenyan universities

Introduction and objective: Clinical learning environments play a great role in nursing training as they allow nursing students to develop their clinical skills by combining cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills. Consequently, clinical learning environments enable nursing students to bridge the theory-practice gap. Fewer studies have examined the clinical experiences of RN to BScN students in Kenya. This paper is part of analytical memo of a larger PhD study that sought to explore and describe the support needs of RN to BScN students in Kenyan universities. The paper focuses on clinical experiences of RN to BScN students.Methods: Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, ten focus group discussions were conducted with 100 RN to BScN students, purposively sampled from four universities in Kenya. Data were analyzed using Tesch’s data analysis protocol. The article has adhered to Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies.Results: The data on RN to BScN students’ clinical experience revealed two themes: curriculum challenges and practice environment and six sub-themes: redundant learning outcomes, redundant clinical assessments, not acknowledging prior learning, lack of clinical supervision, lack of learning resources and “an extra pair of hands”.Conclusions: The study findings highlight the need for review of clinical learning outcomes for the RN to BScN students in Kenya. The findings emphasize the need for collaborative partnerships between universities, clinical learning environments, nurse educators, and policy makers, to design of clinical learning outcomes relevant to RN to BScN students in Kenya.