Experiences of Iranian Nursing Students Regarding Their Clinical Learning Environment

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explain the experiences of Iranian nursing students regarding their clinical learning environment (CLE). METHODS: Twenty-one nursing students participated in this qualitative study. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed using conventional content analysis. RESULTS: Analysis of interviews identified six categories: educational confusion, absence of evaluation procedures, limited educational opportunities, inappropriate interactions with nursing staff, bullying culture, and discrimination. Systematic and consistent methods were not used in clinical education and evaluation of nursing students. In addition, there were inadequate interactions between nursing students and health-care staff, and most students experienced discrimination and bullying in clinical settings. CONCLUSION: Findings showed that the CLE of Iranian nursing students may be inadequate for high-level learning and safe and effective teaching. Addressing these challenges will require academic and practice partnerships to examine the systems affecting the CLE, and areas to be addressed are described in the six themes identified.

[Triage situation from the viewpoint of doctors and nurses in emergency departments of Tabriz hospitals in 2008]

Triage is the process of prioritizing patients based on their medical needs; and the triage nurse is essential for this process. Most developed countries use different systems for triage in emergency department. This research aims to study the triage situation in hospital emergency departments of Tabriz city. In this descriptive study, 176 emergency doctors and nurses from emergency departments were studied in Tabriz. Data was gathered and analyzed by using standard questionnaire and SPSS-14 software. The results illustrated, the triage of emergency departments is organized, focusing on personnel who perform triage as well as the facilities, resources and triage procedures. However, the results indicated that the essentials of triage in Tabriz emergency department are not integrated. About 68.8% of respondents declared that there are not specialized nurses for emergency department. About 72% of respondents stated that there is not triage station in emergency department. About 65% of respondents declared that patients are triaged in the emergency department hall. Due to the lack of standardized and organized triage system in terms of allocation of human resources and prioritize patients, further research on triage in emergency departments, particularly in the areas of health personnel and more attention of health authorities for the implementation of standardized triage system is emphasized