Characteristics of Efficient Clinical Teachers: Nursing Educator's and Student's Perspectives

The importance of clinical education in personal and professional development of nursing students and their clinical skills is undeniable, so any weakness in clinical education can decrease the efficacy of nursing graduates. One of the most important factors affecting clinical education is clinical teachers and their quality of teaching. The purpose of this study was to determine the perspective of clinical teachers and nursing students on the characteristics of an efficient clinical teacher in nursing. This study is a qualitative research based on content analysis. Data were separately collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with 12 nursing clinical teachers who had 3 years of clinical teaching experience, and 15 nursing students passing fifth term or more of education. Data analysis was done after each interview through content analysis. The accuracy of data collection and analysis was achieved by external check (member and peer check). From the viewpoint of clinical nursing teachers, efficient clinical teachers had two themes: extra-personal and personal characteristics, while nursing students opted for only one theme: personal characteristics. The extra-personal theme had two subthemes including system encouraging effective clinical teachers, and support for clinical teacher; and personal characteristics according to the teachers included management characteristics, moral characteristics, educational skills, and emotional characteristics. According to the students, personal characteristics were managemerial, mora and emotional characteristics, educational skill, appearance and their supportive role. Clinical teachers and students had the same idea about efficient clinical teachers on most characteristics, but the main differences lay in the viewpoints of teachers on some characteristics that affect the educational process and were out of their control; and also students pointed to the teachers’ appearance and supportive role. The result of this study identifies some characteristics of efficient clinical teachers and can be used as a guideline in clinical management and education.It is also suggested that more studies be done to support the application of these characteristics in clinical education.