| 1. Do you think the present internship is helping the student to become competent in their professional practice? |
| Faculty members expressed that the present internship is helping the student to become competent as they are getting enough time to learn through one-to-one teaching. The internship also allowed them to practice their skills in critical care units and other clinical areas and independently take care of all kinds of patients under minimum clinical supervision. However, students were required to take the initiative to learn by having effective communication with the staff nurses in the ward, which would help them to become competent in professional practice. The faculty suggested that having students completely posted in the hospital would help make them more accountable and learn better in professional practice. |
| 2. What are the clinical competencies you are expecting from the intern student nurses? |
| Clinical nurse mentors considered that students should also be able to effectively communicate with the patient, family, and healthcare personnel and thereby maintain good IPR. Interns should be able to handle the patient independently and provide comprehensive care to the clients by applying evidence-based practice. Students should be able to provide individualized care for the patients, which includes assessment and identification of the patient’s needs and providing need-based and holistic care. Efficient documentation, waste management, patient safety, infection control, and medication aspects have been reported as essential for providing comprehensive care and being competent enough to practice effectively as an independent nurse at the bedside after the 4-year bachelor’s program. Thus, clinical nurse mentors felt that internships do play a major role in the students’ further professional growth. |
| 3. What areas do you think most of the interns are competent in? |
| Most of the nursing interns are competent in monitoring vital signs and providing nursing care, communication, IPR, patient safety, infection control, medication administration, and waste management. But few of the clinical nurse mentors felt that interns need repeating the hands-on experience. To develop competency in the clinical area, they should even learn to take individual responsibility. Very few students are found to be competent in providing comprehensive care for patients. Students should show the right attitude toward providing care for patients. It should not be done by force or compulsion. |
| 4. What areas do you think most of the interns are incompetent in? |
| Some areas were found to be lacking like fluid calculation and ABG analysis, documentation and critical care, in-depth need assessment, and advanced nursing procedures, which includes assessment of toxic signs, drug reactions, and side effects. Most of the students do not show much interest in communication with patients and health professionals, assertiveness, and application of knowledge to practice. |
| 5. What can be done to improve the clinical competency of intern students? |
| Clinical nurse mentors expressed that student placement may be determined based on the interests of individual students and that if they are carefully overseen by ward nurses, their performance will improve. The key to practice is motivating pupils to participate actively in ward routines and teaching them about the importance of fluid calculation and ABG analysis. Evaluating nursing interns’ performance in the clinical area along with the in-charge nurses was expressed as an effective measure of standard competency. Patient assignment to nursing interns is to be done as a buddy system in both general and critical areas. Along with being a part of the ward routine, students are supposed to be equally responsible for handing it over. It would be better if nursing interns are paid for their clinical duty; then, it would be good motivation in holding them accountable in clinical practice. Coordination between nursing institutes, clinical nurse mentors, hospitals, and students will benefit in improving students’ learning and competency development. Participation in in-service education and other leadership activities are equally important factors in improving medical and nursing knowledge. Case discussion could also provide the continuous learning and confidence to perform patient assessments and help identify the need and progress, which will allow them to actively contribute during physician rounds. |
