Reflections of Clinical Nurses on Digital Stories Created by Nursing Students in Norway: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: As nurses constantly face increasing work demands, their efforts to engage in their own development can be challenged. Digital storytelling, previously used to support nursing students' reflection on clinical practice, may also hold potential benefits for practicing nurses. This study explored clinical nurses' experiences of reflecting on digital stories created by nursing students as part of a learning activity during clinical practice. METHOD: The study used an exploratory qualitative design. Data were collected through three semi-structured focus group interviews with nurses on a hospital clinical unit and at a nursing home. Data were analyzed with Granheim and Lundman's (2004) qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Based on the analysis, students' digital stories (1) provide an oasis for reflection, (2) open learners up to different perspectives, and (3) engage learners from reflection to action. CONCLUSION: Students' digital stories can be a valuable contribution to continuing education for professional nurses. Further research should focus on long-term strategies for implementing the digital story activity as a part of everyday life on clinical units.