Student nurses’ satisfaction and confidence: Blended learning skills training on satellite campuses

• Remote nursing education programs are vital for addressing nurse shortages in rural areas. • Satisfaction with and self-confidence in skills training off-campus are high. • Consider student commitments and plan flexible training with face-to-face support. In response to rural nursing shortages, some traditional on-campus bachelor of science in nursing degree programs have transitioned to a blended learning approach at satellite campuses. This significant shift requires an understanding of how students view the learning activities involved in skills training. The aim of this study was to assess students in an education program in Southern Norway regarding their satisfaction in and self-confidence with skills training using blended learning. The program was hosted at satellite campuses of two universities. For this cross-sectional study, 54 students completed a Student Satisfaction and Self-confidence in Learning scale and open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitative data assessed using content analysis. Students who completed skills training reported high levels of satisfaction with the learning activities and support from their teachers. In addition, they demonstrated high self-confidence in practicing skills. The current findings indicate that students appreciate blended learning strategies and the availability of skills training on satellite campuses along with supportive teaching practices.