Journals / Etkili Hemşirelik Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 19 Sayı: 3

‘I felt like a nurse...’ Initial Clinical Experiences of Nursing Students: Focus Group Study

“Kendimi Hemşire Gibi Hissettim…” Hemşirelik Öğrencilerinin İlk Klinik Deneyimleri: Odak Grup Görüşmesi

Merve Uğuryol Ünal(Ege Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi)
Dilek Sarı(EGE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, HEMŞİRELİK FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-1859-2855
Pages
410–423
Publication Date
2026-07-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Results: According to the results of the study, four main themes emerged: “positive experiences,” “challenging experiences,” “professional experiences,” and “coping behaviors.” Among the positive experiences reported by the students were constructive emotions, enjoyable feelings, development of communication skills, and positive interactions with patients.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Background: Clinical practice has a great importance in nursing education.
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Key Findings & Data:The sample of the study consisted of 24 students who continued their second year in a nursing faculty in the 2024-2025 academic year and completed their initial clinical practice.Data were collected through focus group interview method and semi-structured interview form.The collected data were analysed by content analysis method.
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Conclusion & Impact:Results: According to the results of the study, four main themes emerged: “positive experiences,” “challenging experiences,” “professional experiences,” and “coping behaviors.” Among the positive experiences reported by the students were constructive emotions, enjoyable feelings, development of communication skills, and positive interactions with patients.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2024-2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:İlk klinik deneyim · öğrenci · hemşirelik

Abstract

Background: Clinical practice has a great importance in nursing education. Especially the initial practice experiences of student nurses are special. The objective of this study was to analyse the initial clinical experiences of student nurses. Method: The study is a descriptive qualitative study. The sample of the study consisted of 24 students who continued their second year in a nursing faculty in the 2024-2025 academic year and completed their initial clinical practice.Data were collected through focus group interview method and semi-structured interview form.The collected data were analysed by content analysis method. COREQ checklist was used to report the research. Results: According to the results of the study, four main themes emerged: “positive experiences,” “challenging experiences,” “professional experiences,” and “coping behaviors.” Among the positive experiences reported by the students were constructive emotions, enjoyable feelings, development of communication skills, and positive interactions with patients. The challenging experiences included subthemes of distressing emotions and confronting illness. Professional experiences encompassed the development of fundamental nursing skills, professional satisfaction, challenges of the profession, teamwork and clinical interaction, and professional coping. In coping with difficulties, students employed emotional coping strategies, avoidance behaviors, and social support. Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the positive, challenging, and professional experiences of nursing students during their first clinical practice, as well as the coping behaviors they employ to manage difficulties. These findings highlight the need to focus more on the emotional and professional support requirements of nursing students throughout their education and to provide necessary support to strengthen their professional perceptions.

Özet

Amaç: Klinik uygulamalar hemşirelik eğitiminde büyük bir öneme sahiptir. Özellikle de öğrenci hemşirelerin ilk uygulama deneyimleri özeldir. Bu araştırmada öğrenci hemşirelerin ilk klinik deneyimlerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Araştırma tanımlayıcı nitel bir çalışmadır. Araştırmanın örneklemini bir hemşirelik fakültesinde 2024-2025 öğretim yılında ikinci sınıfa devam eden ve ilk klinik uygulamasını tamamlayan 24 öğrenci oluşturmuştur. Veriler odak grup görüşmesi yöntemi ve yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Toplanan veriler içerik analizi yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırmanın raporlanmasında COREQ kontrol listesi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırma sonuçlarına göre dört tema ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu temalar “olumlu deneyimler”, “zorlayıcı deneyimler”, “mesleki deneyimler” ve “baş etme davranışları”dır. Öğrencilerin yaşadıkları olumlu deneyimler arasında yapıcı duygular, keyif verici duygular, iletişim becerilerinde gelişim ve hastayla olumlu etkileşim yer almaktadır. Öğrencilerin yaşadıkları zorlayıcı deneyimlerde zorlayıcı duygular ve hastalıkla yüzleşme alt temaları elde edilmiştir. Öğrencilerin mesleki deneyimleri arasında temel hemşirelik becerilerinde gelişim, mesleki doyum, mesleğin zorlukları, ekip çalışması ve klinik etkileşim ve profesyonel baş etme alt temaları elde edilmiştir. Öğrencilerin zorluklarla baş etmede duygusal baş etme, kaçma-kaçınma davranışı ve sosyal destek yollarını kullandıkları saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Bu araştırma öğrenci hemşirelerin ilk klinik uygulamalarında yaşadıkları olumlu, zorlayıcı ve mesleki deneyimleri ve zorluklarla başa çıkmada gösterdikleri baş etme davranışlarına yönelik önemli bulgular sunmaktadır. Bu bulgular öğrenci hemşirelerin eğitim süreçlerinde duygusal ve profesyonel destek gereksinimlerine daha fazla odaklanılması gerektiğini ve mesleki algılarının güçlendirilmesi için gerekli desteklerin sağlanması gerektiğini göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Ünal, M. U., Sarı, D. (2026). ‘I felt like a nurse...’ Initial Clinical Experiences of Nursing Students: Focus Group Study. Etkili Hemşirelik Dergisi, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 3, 410–423. https://doi.org/10.46483/jnef.1681716

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