title: The Operating Room Experiences of Nursing Students: A Focus Group Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate operating room (OR) experiences of student nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The focus group interview from qualitative research methods was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out between February and March 2011 in an OR practice at a university school of nursing. The grounded theory method was used to collect and analyze semistructured interview. Interviews were held with a total of 26 students in three focus group interviews. Each interview was tape recorded and was supported by taking notes. The audiotapes were listened and relistened by the researchers and transcribed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes were determined as a result of this study. These are information, determination of career preference, period of internship and/or rotation, and fear and/or anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The students stated that the period of OR practice was insufficient, the opportunities for being able to implement were limited, they mostly observed, and they experienced feelings of being alone and fear in the OR. Despite all of these, the students stated that the OR practice provided a major contribution to their education and was effective in the determination of their career preferences after graduation.
authors.forename: Meryem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yavuz van Giersbergen
authors.forename: Esma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozsaker
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dirimese
authors.forename: Aliye Okgun
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Alcan
mesh_terms: D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: clinical practice; focus groups; nursing education; nursing student; operating room