title: Nursing students' perceptions of factors influencing their learning environment in a clinical skills laboratory: A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mastery of clinical skills learning is required to become a trained nurse. Due to limited opportunities for clinical skills training in clinical practice, undergraduate training at clinical skills laboratories (CSLs) is an essential part of nursing education. In a sociocultural learning perspective learning is situated in an environment. Growing student cohorts, rapid introduction of technology-based teaching methods and a shift from a teaching- to a learning-centered education all influence the environment of the students. These changes also affect CSLs and therefore compel nursing faculties to adapt to the changing learning environment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore students' perceptions of their learning environment in a clinical skills laboratory, and to increase the knowledge base for improving CSL learning conditions identifying the most important environmental factors according to the students.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory qualitative methodology was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen second-year students enrolled in an undergraduate nursing program in Norway participated in the study. They took the same clinical skills course. Eight were part-time students (group A) and 11 were full-time students (group B).
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group interviews and content analysis were conducted to capture the students' perception of the CSL learning environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study documents students' experience of the physical (facilities, material equipment, learning tools, standard procedures), psychosocial (expectations, feedback, relations) and organizational (faculty resources, course structure) factors that affect the CSL learning environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Creating an authentic environment, facilitating motivation, and providing resources for multiple methods and repetitions within clinical skills training are all important for improving CSL learning environments from the student perspective.
authors: Department of Health Studies, University of Stavanger, Norway. Electronic address: cecilie.haraldseid@uis.no.
authors: Cecilie
authors: C
authors: Haraldseid
authors: Department of Health Studies, University of Stavanger, Norway; Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors: Febe
authors: F
authors: Friberg
authors: Department of Health Studies, University of Stavanger, Norway.
authors: Karina
authors: K
authors: Aase
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D009042:Motivation; D009664:Norway; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D000066908:Simulation Training; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Clinical skills; Education; Learning environment; Nursing; Student perceptions