title: Attitudes toward clinical practice in undergraduate nursing students: A Q methodology study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical practice (CP) provides an opportunity to directly apply nursing theories learned in class to practice, with the aim of improving nursing knowledge and skills. Nursing students' perspectives about CP can be diverse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify nursing students' attitudes toward CP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Q-methodology, an integration of quantitative and qualitative methods, was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience P-sample consisting of 43 second-year undergraduate nursing students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three selected Q-statements from each of the 43 participants (P-sample) were classified into the shape of a normal distribution using a 9-point bipolar scale. The collected data were analyzed using the pc-QUANL program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two discrete factors emerged. Factor I comprised a querulous attitude with a critical perspective. Factor II comprised an enthusiastic attitude with a future-oriented perspective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The subjective viewpoints of the two identified factors can be applied in planning effective CP for nursing students.
authors: Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-Ro, Dongjak-Gu, Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: rnhaeunho@cau.ac.kr.
authors: Eun-Ho
authors: EH
authors: Ha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011779:Q-Sort; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Attitude; Clinical practice; Nursing student; Q metodology