The Role of Clinical Instructor in Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice in Nursing Education.

Background: The gap between nursing theory and practice is widely documented and debated in the literature, which defined as the discrepancy between what student nurse acquire through theoretical classroom lectures and what they experience in the clinical setting. Clinical instructors make a valuable contribution to the students learning process by enhance students' learning by creating a positive learning environment and participating as role models. Aim: The study aimed to assess the presented role of clinical nurse instructor in bridging the gap between theory and practice in perspective of student nurses. Methodology: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design was conducted in this study to identify the knowledge-practice gap in related to clinical instructor factors as perceived by the nurses' students. The study was conducted throughout a period of three consecutive months; from 1st June, 2017 to the end of August, 2017. Subjects were selected conveniently from the available students at the 4 main governmental hospitals of Gaza strip. Results: The finding also showed there was a significant agreement (mean 3.6, t = 14.6) among student nurses about the crucial role of instructors in reducing the theory-practice gap. Of which, continuous instructor's follow-up in departments help in reducing the gap was captured the highest mean score (3.9, 78%), while the instructor in the practice use theoretical teaching rather than clinical training had the lowest mean score (3.1, 62%). Conclusion: Nurses are confronted to provide equitable, effective, affordable, and high-quality health care services. There is quite evident that gap's phenomenon does exist and has its strengths as well as areas that can be improved by focus on the clinical instructors' approach throughout creating a positive learning environment, and regularly update their knowledge and skills on the latest trends in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]