Nursing Instructors’ Perception of Clinical Education Competencies: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background: Clinical education competencies are a core requirement for clinical nurse instructors, contributing toward better the learning outcomes of students in the clinical settings. Awareness of nursing instructor's perception is essential for designing nursing professional development programs. This study aimed to explore nursing clinical instructors’ perception of the essential competencies for clinical education. Methods: A qualitative design, based on the content analysis approach was used. Eighteen clinical nursing instructors and five nursing students from Lorestan University of Medical Science(LUMS), were selected via a purposeful sampling method. Data were collected using a semi structured in-depth interview method, from October 2018 to February 2019. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with using Graneheim and Lundman methods. Results: Analysis of nursing instructors' perceptions of clinical education competencies identified four main categories and eight sub-categories. The main categories included; (I) tasks oriented education; (II) guiding and supporting nursing students; (III) organizing communication skills and (IV) professional-ethical role modeling Conclusions Although academic clinical faculties and part time clinical nursing instructors reported a high level of knowledge and confidence in their ability to establish communication skills, role modeling and nursing students’ supervision, Part time clinical nursing instructors, also identified the need for additional support for their clinical teaching roles. They were not prepared enough for clinical teaching roles; their perception of clinical educational skills was tasks oriented education. The development, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum based on clinical competency with structured mentoring processes for part time clinical nursing instructors are recommended, in order to meet the knowledge gap that has been created.