In a study of 211 associate degree (AD) and 204 baccalaureate nursing students, AD students reported significantly higher stress in clinical practice. Stress for both groups increased as they progressed. Instructors were the predominant source of stress. Students had the most difficulty coping with the demands of patient care and the clinical…

A longitudinal study of nursing students showed that without sponsorship by clinical staff students found it difficult to participate and learn. The strategy of scaffolding, building on Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development, enables recognition of learning needs and the relationship between theory and practice. (SK)

Adult health/medical-surgical nurses (n=54) and mental health/psychiatric nurses (n=54) were surveyed about contributions of nursing students in clinical placements. Students provided clinical staff with opportunities for mentoring, reciprocal learning, and professional development and made direct contributions to patient care. (SK)

A nursing college and its clinical partners created the Nursing Collaboratory to generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge to practice through four domains: education, research, practice, and informatics. It serves as an incubator for innovative products and services that enhance nursing education and practice. (SK)

Interviews with six preceptors and six nursing students identified key factors in creating a learning climate conducive to critical thinking: preceptors' ability to value, work with, and support students; clinical staff's acceptance of students on the work team; and faculty support of preceptors and students. (Contains 27 references.) (SK)

Interviews with nine nursing students revealed that they are able to define experiential learning, consider role playing the chief method, are aware of theory-practice issues, understand the importance of reflective practice, and view clinical supervision as an integral part of experiential learning. (SK)

In the Caring for the Community Initiative, a nursing school provides five community-based health programs for underserved populations, which serve as clinical practice and service learning sites for students. The programs provide faculty opportunities to integrate their research, teaching, and service roles. (SK)

Comparison of an innovative group supervision model with a traditional 1:1 supervision model examined the effect on occupational therapy students (n=26) and supervisors (n=28). Adequate preparation in self-directed and collaborative learning is necessary to benefit from group supervision. (JOW)

Nursing preceptors can develop students' critical thinking by questioning their knowledge base, decision making, and actions in clinical experiences. Preceptors need the ability to ask stimulating and challenging questions at the right level of support. (Contains 35 references.) (SK)

Interviews with six nursing students and their clinical preceptors revealed an enabling process through which preceptors foster critical thinking. Key factors were climate and the process of "bringing about," which involved incidental (role modeling, facilitating, guiding, prioritizing) and purposive (questioning) practices. (Contains 81…

Student nurses (n=117) reflected on their psychiatric clinical experience in terms of the quality of the experience and contributions of students, facilitator, and clinical staff. Students were able to identify the strengths and weaknesses in their own actions as well as others in the clinical setting. (SK)

An ethnographic study compared content of a surgical nursing course developed by an individual with content determined through observation of practice. Most content was relevant to practice. However, sociology had a significant influence on practice but it was not addressed in curriculum. Ways to improve course development were recommended. (SK)

This "theme" issue offers 17 articles all on the subject of dentistry education programs sponsored by the Macy project, a 24-month effort to assess the feasibility of "community-based clinical dental education." Following an introduction, articles are grouped into those concerning problems (financing dental education, public financing of dental…

The Clinical Learning Environment Inventory, based on psychosocial educational theory, is designed to measure quality of clinical placements for nursing learning. The environmental dimensions measured include individualization, innovation, satisfaction, involvement, personalization, and task orientation. (Contains 49 references.) (SK)

This bibliography presents citations related to clinical experiences in educational administration. The citations have been divided into four categories: general, higher education, dissertations, and medical education. The general category includes entries that present the historical background of clinical experiences in educational…