Connecting the dots in nursing practicum: Impact of Clinical Learning Triad.

Background: Clinical Learning Triad is the existing relationship between the nursing student, clinical instructor and the support environment, which includes mainly nurses and healthcare teams in the hospitals. Strengthening this relationship is highly essential for a sound learning for nursing students.

Objectives: This study explores the student nurses' perception of the clinical learning triad, its benefits and challenges with regards to their clinical learning.

Method: A qualitative descriptive methodology guided this study. Using semi‐structured interview focus group discussions were conducted to elicit data from 30 participants. Data was analyzed manually to identify the key themes. The credibility and consistency were maintained through utilization of a systematic framework for data analysis.

Results:Five themes identified are Bridging the gap between theory and practice, Skill Acquisition, Interpersonal Skills and Communication, Clinical Instructor-the Centre for Clinical Learning Triad, Benefits and Challenges of Clinical Learning Triad. Students verbalized that the availability of nurses enhanced their learning experience. However, expressed that at times the busy ward routines hindered them from approaching the staff nurses for their learning needs. A specialized clinical instructor is mandatory to channelize objective based clinical learning in nursing education. They also verbalized support from the clinical environment alleviated anxiety and progressed their practical learning. The clinical learning triad intensified the students' knowledge and skills, thereby developing a healthy attitude towards the nursing profession.

Conclusion: Clinical Instructors coordinate the clinical learning from the beginning of a shift but staff nurses too play a major role in helping students to complete student learning through skill training while the instructor is busy handling other students. The study concludes that the practical knowledge of staff nurses combined with the efforts of clinical instructors to bridge the gaps between the theory and practice supported by the positive clinical environment equips the nursing students with required skills and knowledge thus establishing the effectiveness of the Clinical Learning Triad.