Mila Grace C. San Juan | Charity Leene S. Gaspar | Fretzelee Alfornon | Jessa Pearl B. Velos
This investigation regarding the level of knowledge and clinical experience on basic nursing skills among nursing students of University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) undergoing clinical training in hospitals, evaluated theory-practice gap among nursing students as basis for theoretical input in schools and enhancement of skills during hospital exposures. Furthermore, it determined how nursing students apply theoretical inputs in clinical exposures. Quantitative descriptive-correlation research design and standardized questionnaire were employed to gather information from nursing students undergoing clinical training in affiliated hospitals. Two sets of respondents include twenty five students from old nursing curriculum and thirteen from new curriculum. Results showed significant relationship between level of knowledge and clinical experience among UIC nursing students. It revealed that nursing students from old curriculum were highly knowledgeable compared to students in new curriculum. However, students in old and new curriculums were shown to have highly satisfactory clinical experience in actual clinical setting. Theory practice gap was evident, as supported by weak correlations of level of knowledge and clinical experience of old and new curriculums. In this, factors are to be investigated that would influence the outcome of this study. Hence, curriculum change in nursing program satisfied minimum requirements essential to student nurses’ clinical experience.