A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF CHALLENGES, CONTRIBUTING FACTORS, AND STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING OBSTACLES FACED BY UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS

Abstract

Objective:  The study aimed to identify challenges faced by undergraduate nursing students in clinical and academic environments, analyze contributing factors, and evaluate strategies supporting these students in overcoming challenges. Method: This systematic review, conducted in 20th June 2024, followed PRISMA guidelines to explore challenges and strategies faced by undergraduate nursing students during clinical practice. A search in Google Scholar and PubMed yielded 6,230 studies, with 30 meeting inclusion criteria. Data were extracted using a standardized form, and quality assessed with the MMAT. Key themes and strategies were identified for improvement, emphasizing mentorship, supervision, and feedback and resource availability for enhanced learning outcomes. Results: The study results highlight several challenges nursing students encounter during clinical practice, including heavy workloads, inadequate supervision, limited access to resources, and poor communication, all of which adversely affect their skill development and confidence. Contributing factors such as ineffective mentorship, supervision, feedback, and poorly organized placements exacerbate these challenge. Conversely, effective mentorship, supervision, structured feedback, well-organized clinical placements, and access to essential resources were identified as critical for enhancing students' learning experiences. Addressing these challenges and leveraging these positive factors are essential to fostering professional growth, improving clinical competency, and ultimately enhancing healthcare services and patient health outcomes. Conclusion:  The study concludes that by addressing challenges like inadequate supervision and limited resources through effective mentorship, structured feedback, and organized placements, nursing students' clinical competency is enhanced, leading to improved healthcare outcomes and quality patient care.

Keywords: Challenges, Clinical Practice, Educational Strategies, Clinical Competency..