Perception of Nursing Students on Clinical Teaching and Learning of Public Health Nurses: A Descriptive Qualitative Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v16i04.014Abstract
Background: Clinical teaching and learning are fundamental to nursing education, particularly for public health nurses. However, bridging the persistent theory-practice gap remains a challenge. This study explores nursing students' perceptions of clinical teaching and learning for public health nurses in Indonesia. Methods: A qualitative approach was used, involving telephone-based interviews with 18 final-year nursing students. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, guided by in-depth individual interviews and semi structured guidelines. Results: Three key factors were identified as crucial for successful clinical learning: innovative teaching methods, effective supervision, and opportunities for autonomy. While students valued clinical experiences for enhancing their competencies, they also faced several challenges. These included negative attitudes from clinical staff, lack of essential equipment, low student motivation, limited learning opportunities, and a shortage of qualified clinical supervisors. Conclusion: Strengthening clinical teaching and learning is vital for developing public health nursing competencies. A collaborative effort between nursing education institutions and clinical stakeholders is necessary to create a supportive learning environment. Addressing these challenges through better supervision, resource allocation, and innovative teaching strategies will help bridge the theory-practice gap and enhance the preparedness of nursing graduates for professional practice.
Keywords:
Clinical Teaching, Clinical Learning, Nursing Education, Public Health Nurses, Student PerceptionDownloads
References
Arveklev, S. H., & Tengelin, E. (2024). Learning to teach at a norm-critical clinical learning centre: A Phenomenographic study. Nurse Education Today, 139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106250
Bange, J., Gao, W., & Crawford, K. (2025). Graduate nurses’ experience of support, training, and education during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. Collegian. 32(2), 120 - 127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2025.02.002
Bodur, G., Turhan, Z., Kucukkaya, A., & Goktas, P. (2024). Assessing the virtual reality perspectives and self-directed learning skills of nursing students: a machine learning-enhanced approach. Nurse Education in Practice, 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.103881
Catalão, M. J., Arco, H., Carrajola, N., & Tavares, J. (2025). Ageism among newly graduated nurses: The influence of sociodemographic variables and gerontogeriatric nursing education. Nurse Education in Practice,83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104285
Costa, L. A., & Monger, E. J. (2024). Criteria to evaluate graduate nurse proficiencies in obtaining a health history and perform physical assessment in simulation-based education: A narrative review. Nurse Education in Practice, 77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.103984
Fernández-Feito, A., Valcárcel-Álvarez, Y., Andina-Díaz, E., Parás-Bravo, P., Díaz-Alonso, J., García-Cueto, E., & Lana, A. (2023). Contribution of nursing students to clinical settings: A multi center cross sectional study. Nurse Education in Practice, 68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103601
Glerean, N., Talman, K., Glerean, E., Hupli, M., & Haavisto, E. (2025). Promoting correct perception of the nursing profession via 360° virtual learning environment. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 20(2), e542–e549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2024.10.007
Hammar, S., Carlson, E., & Persson, K. (2023). Nurse anesthetist students' experiences of peer learning in clinical education–A qualitative study. Journal of Professional Nursing, 44, 62-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.12.002
He, X., Li, B., Liu, X., Jiao, P., & Zhao, Y. (2024). Correlation between hospice competence and death coping ability among nursing students in China: A cross-sectional survey. Nurse Education Today, 134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.106080
Henderson, B., Chipchase, L., Golder, F., & Lewis, L. K. (2023). Developing student nurses’ evaluative judgement in clinical practice tertiary education: A systematic scoping review of teaching and assessment methods. Nurse Education in Practice, 73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103818
Irvine, S., Aggar, C., Whiteing, N., Honey, M., Stewart, L., Lim, G., ... & Andrew, S. (2024). Final year nursing students' preparedness for medication administration during COVID-19: A multi-site survey study. Nurse Education in Practice, 78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.104011
Janes, G., Ekpenyong, M. S., Mbeah-Bankas, H., & Serrant, L. (2023). An international exploration of blended learning use in pre-registration nursing and midwifery education. Nurse Education in Practice, 66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103514
Kong, L., Briggs, E., & Xyrichis, A. (2025). What is the effect of different interprofessional education teaching strategies on healthcare professions students’ interprofessional learning outcomes? A systematic narrative review. Nurse Education in Practice, 83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104255
Lawal, J., Weaver, S., Bryan, V., & Lindo, J. L. (2015). Factors that influence the clinical learning experience of nursing students at a Caribbean school of nursing. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 6(4), 32–39. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v6n4p32
Lee, C. Y., Miller, C., Bone, E., & Kusljic, S. (2025). Connecting nursing cohorts in authentic learning activities through a redesigned pharmacology curriculum. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 20(1), e244–e249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2024.10.021
Liao, Y., Peng, X., Wang, H., Xie, R., Wang, R., Cao, X., & Chen, R. (2025). Experiences of bullying and coping resources in nursing students during clinical placement. Nurse Education Today, 147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106622
Luciani, M., Ardenghi, S., Rampoldi, G., Russo, S., Bani, M., Strepparava, M. G., ... & Ausili, D. (2024). Caring for nursing students is caring for patients: A multicentre cross-sectional study on the relationship between nursing students' caring and the perception of instructors' caring. Nurse Education Today, 137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106154
Minty-Walker, C., Pettigrew, J., Hunt, L., Rylands, L., & Wilson, N. J. (2023). Nurse education leaders’ perspectives on the teaching of numeracy to undergraduate nursing students: A qualitative research study. Nurse Education in Practice, 72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103754
Opsal, A., Fossum, M., Elf, M., Undheim, M., & Johannessen, T. (2025). Student nurses’ satisfaction and confidence: Blended learning skills training on satellite campuses. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 00, 1–8.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2025.02.010
Oshodi, T. O., & Sookhoo, D. (2025). Nursing students’ perceptions of inadequate nurse staffing in the clinical learning environment – a systematic narrative review. Nurse Education in Practice, 82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.104221
Owusu, L. B., Scheepers, N., & Tenza, I. S. (2025). Exploring nurse educators’ preparation of clinical nurses and midwives for research utilization in practice: A qualitative study. Nurse Education Today, 145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106476
Pérez-Baena, M. J., Cordero-Pérez, F. J., & Holgado-Madruga, M. (2025). Implementing the service-learning methodology in nursing education: A case study. Nurse Education Today, 144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106449
Priddle, T., Crawford, T., Wong, H., & Power, T. (2025). The visibility of Lgbtiq+ content in undergraduate nursing curricula: A qualitative analysis of student, early career nurse and educator perspectives. Nurse Education Today, 152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106605
Raghunathan, K., Houghty, G. S., Siswadi, Y., Eka, N. G. A., Bourke, S., Cardwell, R., Copnell, B., Duncan, R., & Moss, C. (2025). The use of simulation to improve non-technical skills in undergraduate nurse education: A scoping review. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2025.101686
Ridgeway, J. L., Wissler Gerdes, E. O., Zhu, X., Finnie, D. M., Wiepert, L. M., Glasgow, A. E., Torres, A. J., Smith, O. A., Juntunen, M. B., Liedl, C. P., & McCoy, R. G. (2023). A community paramedic clinic at a day center for adults experiencing homelessness. NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.1056/CAT.22.0300
Ridgway, L., McKenna, L., Hokke, S., Hackworth, N., & Nicholson, J. M. (2025). Education for family-centred care: A qualitative study with educators of advanced practice child and family health nurses. Nurse Education in Practice, 84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106628
Rogers, L., & MacCormac, A. (2025). Finding a balance: Using a pre-post test to evaluate the effectiveness of scenario based learning using a blended approach among undergraduate nursing students. Nurse Education Today, 147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106573
Rojo, F. (2025). Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Balancing Pedagogy and Partnerships in an Undergraduate Community-Based Research Class. Teaching Sociology, 53(1), 16-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055X241268741
Stenson, S., Hutton, A., Fenton, A., & Grant, J. (2025). Pre-service education for registered nurses on mandatory reporting of child maltreatment: An integrative review. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 81, 126–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2025.01.024
Suprapto, Kamaruddin, M. I., Herlianty, & Nurhanifah, D. (2024). Building nurse competency strategy at Public Health Center in Indonesia: A descriptive qualitative approach. The Malaysian Journal of Nursing, 15(03), 62–70. https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2024.v15i03.008
Tiitta, I., Cubelo, F., McDermott-Levy, R., Jaakkola, J. J. K., & Kuosmanen, L. (2024). Climate change integration in nursing education: A scoping review. Nurse Education Today, 139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106210
Tiitta, I., Kopra, J., McDermott-Levy, R., Jaakkola, J. J. K., & Kuosmanen, L. (2025). Climate change perceptions among nursing students: A comparative study between Finland and the United States. Nurse Education Today, 146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106541
Williams, E. D., Cox, A., Onih, J., Rolle, K., Adams, M. N., Caudle, H., & Maben, J. (2023). Melting the Snowy White Peaks: The needs, expectations and experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic student nurses to support equitable nursing education and career progression. Nurse Education Today, 128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105897
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
