Current status and influencing factors of clinical teachers’ teaching abilities for Master of Nursing Specialist postgraduates: a cross-sectional study^†

Cognition of the cultivation of MNS postgraduates (N = 143)_

Variable and categories	N	%
Q12: Are you aware that there is a distinction between “academic” and “professional degree” programs in nursing graduate education?
Understand	137	95.80
Do not understand	6	4.20
Q13: Do you understand the differences between “academic” and “professional degree” programs in nursing graduate education?
Have a good understanding	21	14.70
Understand	86	60.10
Have limited understanding	34	23.80
Do not understand	2	1.40
Q14: Are you currently aware of the training objectives for MNS postgraduates (multiple-choice question)?
Research talents	96	67.10
Applied talents	109	76.20
Specialized talents	108	75.50
Composite talents	108	75.50
Do not understand	4	2.80
Q15: What you believe that the training of MNS postgraduates should follow?
Cultivate talents for popular nursing positions	6	4.20
Cultivate talents for clinical nursing specialties with strong technical skills	31	21.70
Cultivate talents for nursing specialties based on the most urgent clinical needs	44	30.80
Each clinical specialty can be cultivated	61	42.70
Others (technical operation | basic theory | health education | evidence-based nursing)	1	0.70
Q16: Do you understand the clinical practice abilities that MNS postgraduates should possess?
Have a good understanding	19	13.30
Understand	97	67.80
Have limited understanding	27	18.90
Do not understand	0	0.00
Q17: What do you consider the focus of clinical practice training for MNS postgraduates (multiplechoice question)?
Technical operation	119	83.20
Basic theory	103	72.00
Health education	116	81.10
Evidence-based nursing	134	93.70
Q18: Do you think the clinical teaching methods for MNS postgraduates and scientific degrees in nursing are the same?
Identical	18	12.60
Different	125	87.40
Variable and categories	N	%
Q19: Do you understand the teaching methods for MNS postgraduates?
Have a good understanding	14	9.80
Understand	99	69.20
Have limited understanding	29	20.30
Do not understand	1	0.70
Q20: Do you understand the knowledge that teachers should possess for teaching MNS postgraduates?
Have a good understanding	17	11.90
Understand	101	70.60
Have limited understanding	24	16.80
Do not understand	1	0.70
Q21: Do you understand the content of clinical teaching for MNS postgraduates?
Have a good understanding	19	13.30
Understand	103	72.00
Have limited understanding	21	14.70
Do not understand	0	0.00

Analysis of the correlation between core competencies and general information about clinical teachers_

Categories	Mean	N	F	P	r
Gender			1.471	0.227
Male	4.59	5
Female	4.25	138
Age (years)			0.514	0.599
≤35	4.34	19
36–45	4.23	97
≥46	4.34	27
Highest level of education			0.889	0.347
Bachelor’s Degree	4.23	101
Master’s Degree	4.34	42
Professional and technical title			2.019	0.137
Directors of Nursing	4.63	10
Nurse Supervisors	4.21	71
Deputy Directors of Nursing	4.26	62
Position			1.702	0.194
Yes	4.32	79
No	4.19	64
Years of experience in nursing work			0.182	0.834
≤10	4.18	13
11–20	4.26	83
≥21	4.3	47
Years of undergraduate teaching			0.005	0.995
≤10	4.26	59
11–20	4.26	74
≥21	4.28	10
Years of postgraduate teaching			0.267	0.766
≤5	4.27	137
6–10	4.1	5
≥11	4	1
Number of MNS postgraduates			0.584	0.559
≤10	4.24	122
11–20	4.4	16
≥21	4.38	5
Research experience	3.78	143		0.116	0.132
Specialty practice experience	1.76	143		0.633	0.04

General information on clinical teachers for MNS postgraduates (N = 143)_

Variable and categories	N	%
Q1: Gender
Male	5	3.50
Female	138	96.50
Q2: Age (years old)
32–40	87	12.60
41–48	38	2.70
49–56	18	1.30
Q3: Highest level of education
Master’s Degree	42	29.40
Bachelor’s Degree	101	70.60
Q4: Professional and technical title
Directors of Nursing	10	6.99
Deputy Directors of Nursing	62	43.40
Nurse Supervisors	71	49.70
Nurse Practitioner	0	0.00
Q5: Position
No	64	44.80
Yes	79	55.20
Q6: Years of experience in nursing work
6–10	13	9.10
11–20	83	58.00
21–30	31	21.70
31–38	16	11.20
Q7: Years of undergraduate teaching
0–10	59	41.30
11–20	74	51.80
23–32	10	7.00
Q8: Years of postgraduate teaching
0–5	109	76.20
6–10	28	19.60
13–30	6	4.20
Q9: Number of MNS postgraduates taught
0–10	122	85.30
11–20	16	11.20
22–40	5	3.50
Q10: Research experience (multiple-choice question)
Independently applied for and obtained approval for projects	50	35.00
Participated in the implementation of research projects as a collaborator	77	54.00
Published articles as the first author	129	90.20
Contributed to articles as a collaborator	119	83.20
Independently applied for patents or software copyright registrations and obtained authorization	94	65.70
Participated in the application for patents or software copyright registrations as a collaborator	72	50.40
Q11: Specialty practice experience (multiple-choice question)
Obtained an international specialist nurse certificate	9	6.30
A specialist nurse training certificate from the Chinese Nursing Association	59	41.20
A provincial specialist nurse training certificate	86	60.10
Undergone training for ≥3 months at a leading domestically renowned medical institution in the specialist field	46	32.10
Won awards in provincial-level or higher specialist skills competitions	22	15.40
Awards in specialist skills competitions organized by academic groups and participated by contestants nationwide	31	21.70

Independent variable assignments_

Independent variable	Assignment of values
Gender	Male = 1, Female = 2
Age (years)	≤35 = 1,36-45 = 2, ≥46 = 3
Highest level of education	Bachelor’s Degree = 1, Master’s Degree = 2
Professional and technical title	Directors of Nursing = 1, Nurse Supervisors = 2, Deputy Directors of Nursing = 3
Position	Yes = 1, No = 2
Years of undergraduate teaching	≤10 = 1, 11-20 = 2, ≥21 = 3
Years of postgraduate teaching	≤5 = 1, 6-10 = 2, ≥11 = 3
Number of MNS postgraduates	≤10 = 1, 11-20 = 2, ≥21 = 3

Survey form for the implementation status of clinical teachers of MNS postgraduates_

Variable and categories	N	%
Q48: Before the postgraduates come to my department for practice, their mentors contact me to communicate about the content of the graduate practice plan and tasks
All the postgraduates’ mentors have been contacted	29	20.20
The mentors of most postgraduates have been contacted	56	39.20
Uncertain	22	15.40
The mentors of a very small number of postgraduates have been contacted	23	16.10
No postgraduates’ mentors have been contacted	13	9.10
Q49: How does the postgraduates submit their clinical practice plan?
It was presented to me before the postgraduates came to my department for practice	47	32.90
It was immediately presented upon the postgraduates’ reporting to my department	62	43.40
Uncertain	18	12.60
After my prompt and request, it was presented to me	12	8.40
Never present	4	2.80
Q50: The arrangement and examination process for postgraduate students’ departmental exit exams are as follows?
All postgraduates consulted with their dual mentors in advance regarding the exam time, and the dual mentors attended the students’ departmental exit exams.	46	32.20
Most postgraduates consulted with their dual mentors in advance regarding the exam time, and most of the dual mentors attended the students’ departmental exit exams	42	29.40
Uncertain	24	16.80
A small number of postgraduates consulted with their dual mentors in advance regarding the exam time, and a few of the dual mentors (or one mentors) attended the students’ departmental exit exams	18	12.60
No postgraduates consulted with their dual mentors regarding the exam time, and no mentors attended the students’ departmental exit exams.	13	9.10
Q51: The situation regarding postgraduates’ compliance with the leave application and cancelation system is as follows:
All postgraduates are able to comply	108	75.50
Most postgraduates are able to comply	26	18.20
Uncertain	7	4.90
A small number of postgraduates are able to comply	2	1.40
No postgraduates are able to comply	0	0.00

Core competencies of clinical teachers for MNS postgraduates Mdn (Q25, Q75)_

Variable	Mdn (Q25, Q75)
Q22: Possess general knowledge of pedagogy and psychology	4.00 (3.00, 5.00)
Q23: Have a grasp of scientific development trends and research hotspots	4.00 (3.00, 4.00)
Q24: Have an understanding of one’s own knowledge and abilities	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q25: Have a passion for clinical teaching and clinical work	5.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q26: Ability to judge students’ psychology and predict their behavior	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q27: Expression ability (verbal and non-verbal)	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q28: Flexibility and diversity in educational formats	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q29: Vitality and attractiveness in lectures	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q30: Ability to teach according to different clinical scenarios	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q31: Ability to handle unexpected teaching situations	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q32: Ability to create a relaxed and comfortable teaching environment and atmosphere	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q33: Level of clinical operation skills	5.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q34: Ability to assess patient conditions and make appropriate judgments and treatments	5.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q35: Serving as a role model for students in the nurse role	5.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q36: Demonstrating the thought process and clinical decision-making for students	5.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q37: Research capabilities	4.00 (3.00, 4.00)
Q38: Familiarity with organizing and managing teaching and clinical activities	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q39: Ability to plan and efficiently arrange practical training activities	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q40: Interpersonal relationships and cooperation	5.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q41: Methods for correcting students’ errors	5.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q42: Helping students cope with stress and control emotions	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q43: Encouraging independent thinking and innovative thinking	5.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q44: Evaluating one’s own behavior, reflecting on teaching, and summarizing experience	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q45: Ability to analyze and synthesize various types of information to solve problems	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q46: Self-regulation	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)
Q47: Self-learning and self-improvement	4.00 (4.00, 5.00)