The diversity of Iranian nursing students' clinical learning styles: A qualitative study

Background: Numerous factors, including learning styles, affect the learning process of nursing students. Having insights about students' learning styles helps promoting the quality of education. The aim of this study was to explore the Iranian baccalaureate nursing students' learning styles in clinical settings. Methods: A qualitative design using a content analysis approach was used to collect and analyze data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen Iranian baccalaureate nursing students selected using a purposive sample method. Findings: During data analysis, it was found that nursing students employed different clinical learning styles such as 'thoughtful observation, 'learning by thinking,' and 'learning by doing'. Conclusion: Students adopt different learning strategies in clinical practice. Designing teaching strategies based on students' learning styles can promote students' learning and maximize their academic and clinical practice success. Nursing educators, curriculum designers, and students can use the findings of this study to improve the quality of nursing education in both the classroom and clinical settings. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.