title: Exploring the environment of clinical baccalaureate nursing students' education in Iran; A qualitative descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Today's students are the nurses of tomorrow. They need appropriate clinical learning opportunities in order to shape their professional identity, attitudes and values. Despite undeniable progresses of nursing education in Iran, the quality of the clinical education in Iran is not favorable. There is a need to explore the environment of clinical baccalaureate nursing students' education for developing, maintaining and enhancing the quality of clinical program.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a qualitative study and was conducted based on content analysis multimethod design. Data were collected by individual interviews, focus groups and direct observations. 54 nursing students and 8 clinical educators from the four geographically diverse universities in the Iran composed the study sample. A purposive sampling was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five themes were emerged from data analysis including; ambiguity in the nursing care role, routine-based nursing care, uncritical and dependent thinking climate, incompetency of clinical educators and patient education as important component of nursing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study describe a clearer understanding of the real environment of the clinical education in Iran. All of themes that emerged from the study play an important role in student learning and nursing education. It is crucial to pay more attention to reconsider care concept as an operational component of nursing, maximize meaningful learning opportunities, reevaluate clinical instructor as role models and prepare effective operational plan to combine theoretical and evidence based knowledge with clinical practice.
authors: Department of Medical Education, Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: aryousefy@edc.mui.ac.ir.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Yousefy
authors: Critical Care Department, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: yazdannik@nm.mui.ac.ir.
authors: Ahmad reza
authors: Ar
authors: Yazdannik
authors: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: sepidmohamadi@nm.mui.ac.ir.
authors: Sepideh
authors: S
authors: Mohammadi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods; D004777:Environment; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Clinical education; Clinical educator; Nursing education; Nursing student