Explore Issues and Barriers to Internship among Graduating Students in Nursing Institutes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Internship among Graduating Students in Nursing

Iqdar Ali; Khalil Ahmad; Nusrat Ara; Salman Ahmad; Sadia Noreen; Surraya Ali

doi:10.54393/nrs.v5i2.157

Authors

Iqdar Ali Rabbani Institute of Health Sciences, Swat, Pakistan
Khalil Ahmad Hayatabad Institute of Medical Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan
Nusrat Ara Post Graduate College of Nursing, Peshawar, Pakistan
Salman Ahmad PEF Post Graduate College, Peshawar, Pakistan
Sadia Noreen District Headquarters Hospital, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
Surraya Ali District Headquarters Hospital, Chitral, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/nrs.v5i2.157

Keywords:

Nursing Internships, Barriers to Placement, Clinical Competence, Institution Problems

Abstract

Internships are pivotal in shaping the professional course of graduating students, yet newly graduated nurses often confront a lack of confidence and preparedness for clinical roles, posing challenges as they transition from academia to practice. However, nursing students reportedly struggle to achieve the intended objectives of skill development, resulting in insufficient competence. Objective: To explore issues and barriers to internship placement among graduating students in nursing institutes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative design was used to explore participants’ experiences. Ethical approval was obtained from the ERB of Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. Data were collected from seven purposively selected students through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. Interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed, translated, and organized between October and December 2023. Colaizzi’s seven-step framework guided the thematic content analysis. Results: Four main themes emerged from the study: institution-related problems, factors associated with regulatory bodies, issues linked to hospitals, and factors related to effects or outcomes. Nursing students encountered various barriers, including low motivation, inadequate monitoring of learning, lack of knowledge, improper rotation plans, absence of policies, insufficient supervision, inadequate stress-coping support, and challenges in managing time between theory and practical activities during their clinical internships. Conclusion: Graduating nursing students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face significant institutional, regulatory, and clinical barriers that hinder effective internship placement and skill development.

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