Nursing students' perceptions of tutorial strategies during clinical learning instruction: A descriptive study

Context: Teaching strategies and methodology used in clinical training are varied and have different levels of outcome. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out in Italy on a convenience sample of third year students at four campuses of the Verona University, using a questionnaire divided into four sections: trainees' perception of the levels of usefulness of various teaching strategies, the levels of effectiveness, the level of supervision and the perceived complexity. Results: 308 students compiled the questionnaire. All the tutorial strategies included were perceived as having medium to high levels of usefulness, ten out of the eleven learning strategies were found to be very useful. A medium-high level of usefulness was perceived for supervision (M 2.9 +/- 1). The two skills recorded as needing the most supervision were the management of therapy (M 3.8 +/- 1.03: Me 4) and performing nursing techniques (M 3.7 +/- 0.95; Me 4). The most complex activities were considered to be confronting an emergency situation (M 3.8 +/- 1.03) and the planning of care for a group of patients (M 3.3 +/- 0.941), and these two activities had had the least amount of supervision. Conclusions: A tutoring model emerged that was centred on learning by experience and with guidance. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.