ASSESSING THE PERCEPTION OF CLINICAL TRAINING AMONG 3RD AND 4TH YEAR NURSING STUDENTS IN MADONNA UNIVERSITY, ELELE, RIVERS STATE

This is a quantitative survey research study that assess the perception of clinical training among 3rd and 4th year nursing student in Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State. Four objectives and research questions were used for the study. Population of the study comprised of all 3rd and 4th year nursing students in Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State. The respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane’s formula. A 30-item structured Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection which was validated by the researcher’s supervisor and tested for internal consistency with reliability coefficient of 0.81 and sample size of 178 respondents. Data for the study was generated through face to face administration of the instrument and data generated were presented in table and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Ethical approval was sought and obtained from Madonna University Teaching Hospital Human Research and Ethical committee. The study revealed that respondent's perception of clinical training is both good and bad and the benefit are positive but faced with different challenges which affects their perception on clinical training as a method of training. Efforts should be made to address the challenges faced by students during clinicals so as to help improve the perception and make them actively involved during clinical training by nursing students because positive perception leads to a active `and maximum participation of student nurses in the clinical environment thereby producing future nurses that are intellectually sound both theoretically and clinically to serve the humanity and other members of healthcare well.