title: The clinical experience of novice students in nursing.
abstract: The learning experience of nursing students in their first clinical laboratory in a hospital was examined in a qualitative investigation. Graduate students in a nursing research seminar course participated as co-investigators in the study of clinical learning among sophomore nursing students. Findings revealed that sophomore students in nursing reflected on their role in the clinical setting and in nursing; pursued ways to learn in clinical settings; actively sought mentors; made connections to staff, patients, and peers; and searched for ways to validate the competence of their beginning skills. Parallels of the students' behaviors to the novice-to-expert paradigm were found. The study was valuable for both undergraduate and graduate students involved in the investigation.
authors.affiliation: Georgetown University School of Nursing, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Neill
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cohran
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ransom
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007587:Job Description; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D012380:Role; D012951:Socialization; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*