Characteristics of an Effective Clinical Instructor as Perceived by Nurses

Back ground: The effectiveness of clinical instructors plays a pivotal role in the professional development of nurses. An effective clinical instructor not only demonstrates clinical expertise but also provides mentorship, support, and constructive feedback to learners. By fostering critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, clinical instructors ensure that nurses are well-prepared for the challenges of patient care. The aim of study was to assess the characteristics of an effective clinical instructor as perceived by nurses. Research design: A descriptive research design was utilized to conduct this study. Sample: The study subject was compromised all nurses with Bachelor degree (400) enrolled in Itay-Elbarod general hospital at El- Beheira governorate. Tool: The Nursing Clinical Instructor Effectiveness Questionnaire. The questionnaire also collects socio-demographic data. Results: levels of clinical instructor effectiveness as perceived by studied nurses. It was found that (43%) of nurses rated their clinical instructors as having a moderate level of effectiveness. Additionally, (41%) of them perceived their instructors as highly effective. While (11%) of nurses reported a low level of effectiveness, only (5%) rated them as ineffective. Conclusion: less than one third of nurses agreed and less than one quarter strongly agreed on its importance and effectiveness. Lastly, in the personality dimension, more than one third agreed and 23.1% strongly agreed on the effectiveness of instructors’ personality traits. Recommendations: Organize training workshops for clinical instructors to enhance teaching ability, focusing on clear communication, linking theory to practice and encouraging active participation during clinical training.