Clinical nursing instructors' perceived challenges in clinical teaching.

AIM: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the challenges in clinical teaching that are encountered by clinical instructors and to foster the relevant training.

METHODS: Focus group methodology was used. The participants were 54 clinical nursing instructors who were recruited from middle Taiwan and participated in one of five focus groups of 2-3 h each. The data transcripts were analyzed by using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS: Five challenges emerged: (i) teaching outside one's area of expertise; (ii) building cooperative relationships with the clinical staff; (iii) the unit's use of students as nursing staff; (iv) inappropriate clinical practices by the clinical staff; and (v) clinical staff members' negative comments toward the students. These challenges revealed clinical nursing instructors' difficulties in balancing clinical teaching quality and their relationships with the clinical staff members.

CONCLUSION: The identified challenges reflect the need to support clinical instructors and assist them to prepare for their role through training programs or policy changes.