NURSING-STUDENTS INITIAL CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE - A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Nursing students have revealed that one of the most anxiety-producing aspects of their clinical experience is the initial clinical experienc e. In order to help students through their initial clinical experience , faculty must first understand more fully the meaning of this experie nce for nursing students. A phenomenological study was conducted to ex plore the lived experience of nursing students' first clinical experie nce. Eighteen undergraduate nursing students described in writing an e xperience they had during their first day of clinical. Data were analy zed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Six theme clusters emerg ed: pervading anxiety, feeling abandoned, encountering reality shock, envisioning self as incompetent, doubting choices, and uplifting conse quences. Implications for nurse educators are addressed.