Resilience enhancement among student nurses during clinical practices: A participatory action research study

Background: Clinical practice is an essential component of nursing students’ preparation for applying theoretical knowledge in a real-life setting. However, students often experience clinical practice as extremely stressful, which may disrupt their clinical performance, impact the quality of patient care they provide as well as their own physical and psychological health, and hinder their continuation into nursing careers. Resilience, understood as the capability to overcome challenges, is critical for these students. Purpose: To develop and implement a resilience enhancement (RE)-based project for Taiwanese nursing students during their Last Mile practicum. Design and Methods: A participatory action research (PAR) approach was used in which ongoing planning, action, and reflection informed real-time progress. Twenty-eight nursing students in clinical practice participated in the study. A six-workshop RE project was completed over the course of two months. Evaluation methods involved group discussion, individual interviews, and reflective diaries. Content analysis was applied to the data. Results: Through a PAR-based project, participants achieved positive results. Three outcome themes were identified: Increasing self-exploration, Furthering confidence and competency, and Constructing resilience. Conclusions: The PAR-based RE project helped students to develop resilience by enhancing their nursing knowledge and skills and practicing positive thinking and behavior. Clinical Relevance: The findings can be a reference for nursing educators in designing RE programs for students during clinical practice to increase their professional competence and provide psychological supports.