The connection of the clinical learning environment and supervision of nursing students with student satisfaction and future intention to work in clinical placement hospitals

Aims and objectives To analyse nursing students' perceptions of the clinical learning environment and supervision and the connection between their satisfaction and intention of staying in their placement hospitals. Background Global nursing shortage necessitates strategies for the recruitment and retention of nurses. It is believed that nursing students' clinical placement experiences can affect their learning outcomes, as well as influence their choice of future workplace. Design Cross-sectional, correlational study. Methods One hundred and eighty nursing students participated in the study. The data were collected in person using The Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher scale tool. Students' satisfaction with the clinical learning environment and learning process was measured using a 4-point Likert scale developed by the researchers. The STROBE checklist was used in this paper. Results Nursing students perceived a favourable clinical learning environment and supervision in the hospitals where they undertook clinical placements, recording high levels of satisfaction and high levels of intention to stay and work there. The clinical learning environment and supervision established positive correlations with student satisfaction. Conclusions This study promotes the development of knowledge and understanding of how student satisfaction and intention to stay and work in their placement hospitals relates to the quality of the clinical learning environment and supervision, which could be helpful to the management of healthcare facilities and faculties in improving nursing education and retention/recruitment strategies. Relevance to clinical practice Nursing students represent the future of the nursing workforce, so managers of healthcare facilities and faculties should move towards promoting a clinical learning and supervisory environment where supervisors, tutors and staff are aware of their commitment to student education and promote optimal learning and positive experiences in order for students to feel satisfied and motivated to work in their placement hospitals.