Nursing Students’ Experiences of Electronic Medical Records During Placements

As the adoption of electronic medical records has become a global trend, the need to integrate electronic medical records education into undergraduate nursing curricula has been internationally recognized. There are very few nursing colleges in China put an emphasis on the skills required to properly use nursing informatics. This study explored Chinese nursing students’ experiences with Electronic Medical Records during clinical placements. This research used a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. First, a survey of 355 participants assessed electronic medical records exposure, attitudes, and confidence levels. Descriptive analysis indicated that although most students recognized the value of Electronic Medical Records for improving patient care and learning, nearly one-third reported low confidence and uncertainty in their skills. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 12 students. Four main categories emerged: inadequate preparation, marginalization from Electronic Medical Records workflows, benefits of students using electronic medical records, and students’ adaptation strategies. Interview data revealed that although students valued EMR engagement for enhancing accountability and clinical reasoning, structural and educational barriers constrained meaningful participation. Integrating authentic Electronic Medical Records training into undergraduate curricula and improving clinical access may strengthen students’ digital competence and professional readiness in increasingly technology-driven health care environments.