Analysis of the Current Situation and Influencing Factors of the Adaptive Ability of Undergraduate Nursing Students during Clinical Internship

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the current situation and analyze the influencing factors of the adaptive ability of undergraduate nursing students during clinical internship period and analyze their influencing factors, in order to provide a basis for the development of effective intervention strategies. Methods: From December 2024 to January 2025, 336 full-time undergraduate nursing students who had completed four months of internship in a tertiary hospital in Haikou City were selected by convenience sampling method. An online questionnaire was administered using the General Information Questionnaire and the Clinical Adaptation Skills Scale for Nursing Students in Internship. SPSS 27.0 software was used for descriptive analysis, independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results: The total clinical adaptability score of undergraduate nursing students was (82±11.5), which was at a moderate level. Among them, 72 (21.4%) were well-adjusted, 168 (50.0%) were mildly maladjusted, and 96 (28.6%) were moderately severe maladjusted. The scores of each dimension, in descending order, were: interpersonal relationship (3.6±0.6), occupational cognition (3.4±0.7), behavioral performance (3.3±0.7), and emotion (3.1±0.8). Univariate analysis showed that the differences in clinical adaptability scores were statistically significant among nursing students of different genders, places of origin, whether or not they were student leaders, frequency of extracurricular activities, personality types, monthly family incomes, degree of liking for the nursing profession, and attitudes toward employment prospects (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The overall adaptive ability of undergraduate nursing students during their clinical internships needs to be improved, which is influenced by a variety of personal and social factors. It is recommended that comprehensive measures be taken at the school, hospital and nursing students' own levels, including optimizing the curriculum, strengthening the support of clinical teaching, and enhancing the psychological resilience and sense of professional identity of nursing students, in order to promote their smooth adaptation to the clinical environment.