Abstract

This study was conducted on factors influencing the  effective clinical learning experience of students in College of Nursing Sciences Katsina, the study was conducted to identify the factors that affect clinical thinking skills of student Nurses of College of Nursing Sciences, Katsina in the clinical area, to identify the factors that hinder effective clinical learning experience of the student nurses in the clinical area and find out ways of improving clinical learning experience among student nurses of College of Nursing Sciences, Katsina. The questionnaire was developed and used as means for data collections. The questionnaire items were constructed to cover the three domain of learning, – cognitive, psychomotor and – on students’ clinical learning experience. The study revealed the importance of interpersonal relationship between nursing students and clinical staff in creating a conducive learning environment. The study findings revealed that majority of the respondents opined that the wards can be regarded as good learning environment that enhance students’ clinical performance, internal motivation and drive of student is a key to effective clinical thinking and skill development. More so, some of the responses on factors that hindered effective clinical learning experience of the students indicated that the respondents agreed that inadequate number of clinical instructors, not all the staff nurses in the ward are ready to take the role of clinical preceptors, and inadequate teaching and learning aids in the wards. It is recommended that clinical instructors/preceptors should collaborate as team with students and patients at the center to boost students learning and should know the strength and weakness of the students to improve on it.