The operating room is a challenging learning environment for many students. Preparedness for practice is important as perceived stress and the fear of making mistakes are known to hamper learning. The aim was to evaluate students' perspectives of an e-learning resource for achieving preparedness. A mixed methods design was used. Students (n = 52) from three educational nursing and medical programs were included. A questionnaire was used to explore demographics, student use of the e-learning resource, and how the learning activities had helped them prepare for their clinical placement. Five focus group interviews were conducted as a complement. Most students (79%) stated that the resource prepared them for their clinical placement and helped them to feel more relaxed when attending to the operating room. In total, 93% of the students recommended other students to use the e-learning resource prior to a clinical placement in the operating room. Activities containing films focusing on practical procedures were rated as the most useful. We conclude that an e-learning resource seems to increase students' perceived preparedness for their clinical practice in the operating room. The development of e-learning resources has its challenges, and we recommend student involvement to evaluate the content.
Keywords: clinical learning environment; e-learning; operating room; student preparedness.