Students’ Perception on taught Theories and Clinical Practice in Nursing Education Training

Abstract

Theory and practice are two essential components of nursing education. Effective learning occurs when the knowledge acquired in the classroom is successfully transferred into clinical practice. However, existing research indicates that a persistent gap often exists between theoretical instruction and practical application in nursing education. This study was conducted to examine whether the theories taught in the classroom are effectively connected to nursing practice.

A qualitative phenomenological design was used, and data were collected through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Four major themes emerged from the study: nursing education, the existence of a theory-practice gap in nursing education, the reasons for this gap, and suggestions for bridging it.

The findings revealed that twelve out of sixteen students, representing seventy-five percent of participants, believed that there was an imbalance between theory and practice in their nursing education. This imbalance supports the existence of a theory-practice gap. Students also emphasized the complexity of the theoretical learning environment compared with the clinical learning environment, noting that both settings significantly influence their educational experience.

To address this gap, many students recommended a better balance between theoretical instruction and clinical practice, increased support during clinical teaching, and the resolution of language barriers among students, classroom instructors, and clinical educators.

The qualitative design of this study generated rich and meaningful data on the quality of nursing education, the causes of the theory-practice gap, and possible solutions at Near East University in Northern Cyprus. The findings may contribute to the revision and improvement of the university’s nursing education program. This study is also significant because it appears to be the first in the Republic of Northern Cyprus to examine the gap between theory and practice in nursing education.

Keywords: Nursing education; Theory and practice; Clinical education; Theory-practice gap; Student experience.