Influence of Nursing Students' Clinical Practice Learning Environment, Self-leadership, and Clinical Practice Belonging on Nursing Professionalism

Kim, Chang Hee; Kim, Jung Yee

Abstract

PURPOSE
This exploratory study aims to identify various factors influencing the level of nursing professionalism among nursing students.
METHODS
This study surveyed 246 senior nursing students in U city with a structured self-report questionnaire analyzed with SPSS 22.0.
RESULTS
The average scores for clinical practice learning environment, self-leadership, clinical practice belonging, and nursing professionalism were 3.16, 3.77, 3.53, and 3.60, respectively. There were significant differences in nursing professionalism according to the subjects' satisfaction with the nursing major and satisfaction with the amount of nursing. The most significant factors affecting nursing professionalism included clinical practice learning environment (Î²=.40, p < .001), self-leadership (Î²=.21, p=.001), and clinical practice belonging (Î²=.16, p=.011). These variables explained 39% of the total variance in nursing professionalism.
CONCLUSION
Clinical practice learning environment, self-leadership, and clinical practice belonging are factors in the nursing professionalism of senior nursing students. Collaborative efforts by universities and clinics are needed to improve the clinical training environment and to produce good nurses. Particularly since few studies have been conducted in Korea on clinical practice belonging, it is meaningful to explore how clinical practice belonging affects nursing professionalism.