Protocol for a mixed-method systematic review on challenges perceived by final-year undergraduate nursing students in a clinical learning environment

Abstract

Aims: To determine the challenges perceived by final-year nursing students in the clinical learning environment.

Design: Data-based convergent mixed-method systematic review.

Methods: Three electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) will be used in the identification stage. The first search will use the search string for each database to identify relevant studies. The articles retrieved will be screened by year of publication, article type and language. Abstracts and full-text of selected studies will be screened for eligibility independently by a minimum of two reviewers. The reference lists will be manually screened to identify additional publications. The quality assessment will be conducted by two reviewers using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tools. Quantitative and mixed-method studies will be transformed into qualitative. A thematic approach will be used to synthesize and report the data. Ethics approval and funding have been approved in April 2020.

Discussion: This study will synthesize the types of challenges perceived by final-year undergraduate nursing students in different clinical learning environments across the country.

Impact: The proposed study findings will help nursing education stakeholders and faculty provide assistance to final-year nursing students in their transition year to become registered nurses.

Keywords: challenges; clinical learning environment; clinical nursing education; degree nursing; final-year; review protocol.