LEARNING TO NURSE IN THE CLINICAL SETTING

The findings reported in this paper are part of a larger study examini ng student socialization into nursing. In analysing the data, it becam e evident that two major factors influenced the students' learning in the clinical setting: the first was the clinical instructor, the secon d peer support. Instructors who were organized, encouraging, outgoing, and who had good relationships with students, patients and nursing st aff were seen as 'good' role models. When instructors were unable to e stablish rapport on a unit, negative feedback from nursing staff could be detrimental to student learning. Peer support encompassed three di mensions: facilitating learning, providing emotional support, and assi sting with physical tasks. There was evidence that practising faculty had a stronger influence in shaping students' attitudes towards nursin g than classroom teachers.