PERCEIVED IMPACT OF CLINICAL NURSING PRACTICE

This study assessed the perceived impact of clinical nursing practice on the academic performance of undergraduate nursing students in the University of Benin. Across-sectional survey design was employed, gathering data from 282 students through structured questionnaires. Findings revealed that 44.9% believed their workload during clinical practice adversely affected their learning, while 76.4% found instructor feedback helpful in enhancing clinical skills. Limited access to resources was reported by 40.6% of participants, and56.4%experienced stress that influenced their perception of clinical practice. Although clinical practice significantly enhanced professional development—49.1% strongly agreeing—it also presented challenges: 83.6% struggled to balance academic and clinical demands, and61.8%cited inadequate resources. Additionally, 50.9% reported insufficient supervision and mentorship, while 54.5% experienced high stress levels. Recommendations to address these issues include enhancing resource availability, strengthening mentorship, managing workloads, and providing stress management training. These interventions could optimize the learning environment and better prepare students for professional practice, emphasizing the need for ongoing evaluation and improvement of clinical training programs to align with healthcare demands and student needs