Experiences of Student Nurses’ Interaction with the Staff Nurses during Clinical Duty

The study aimed to determine the experiences of student nurses’ interaction with the staff nurses during clinical duty. It focused on the three major points: 1. to describe the learning experiences of student nurses as they interact with the staff nurses; 2. to identify the gaps and challenges encountered by the student nurses as they interact with staff nurses; and to determine the coping mechanisms was used by the student nurses. The descriptive method of research used to describe the learning experiences of student nurses as they interact with staff nurses. The populations were ten (10) nursing students rotated in the medical ward of a hospital. Purposive method was used in selecting the respondents. In general, all the situations happened to the student nurses as they interact with the staff nurses were all negative. Most of the respondents claimed that they were insulted and reprimanded by the staff nurses, not because of negligence or errors of the student nurses but staff nurses lack trust and easily get irritated when there are students working with them in the area because it can delay their work. The learning experiences of the student nurses were mostly on the understanding that all data and information about the patient’s current condition should be reported immediately to the staff nurses, be responsible in doing procedures and never hesitate to approach with the staff nurses. The gaps and challenges that the student nurses mostly encountered is the hesitation on approaching the staff nurses, where most of the staffs are not approachable and they easily get angry when student nurses ask questions. While the coping mechanism used by the student nurses is the acceptance of the situation. And it can be concluded that the attitude of the staff nurse towards the student nurses affects the students’ confidence and learning. Therefore, the student nurses’ attitude during clinical duty is related to what the staff nurses tend to express towards the students.

Keywords - Experiences, Student nurses, Staff Nurses, Interaction, Gaps and Challenges, Coping Mechanisms