Satisfaction with clinical practice among nursing students using regression models and qualitative comparative analysis

Abstract Background: Clinical practices are considered fundamental in nursing studies for effective training of nurses and in students’ satisfaction. Both the clinical environment and the clinical educator are key factors in satisfaction with the clinical practice. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of the socio-demographic variables of clinical educators and nursing students on satisfaction with the clinical practices. Methods: The study included 527 nursing students enrolled on the subject of clinical practice at a private university in Valencia, Spain. The age of the participants ranged from 19 to 51 years old, (M=24.4; SD=6.1) and 79% (451) were women. An instrument was used to measure satisfaction with the practices based on the following scales: Clinical Learning Environment (CLE-1995), Clinical Learning Environment and Supervision (CLES-2002), Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (CLEI-2003), Clinical Learning environment, supervision and nurse teacher (CLES+T - 2008) and the Clinical Assessment Instrument (IEC-2009). Two statistical methodologies were used for data analysis: hierarchical regression models (HRM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis model (fsQCA).Results : The results indicate that sociodemographic variables such as sex and year group influence student satisfaction in both methodologies. Conclusions: Based on these results, training plans to improve students’ satisfaction with the clinical practice can be established.