Nursing students’ achievement emotions in association with clinical practicums and alternative learning

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to identify and compare nursing students’ achievement emotions associated with clinical practicums and alternative learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional, descriptive study enrolled 236 nursing students. Participants completed a web-based, self-administered survey regarding achievement emotions. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to calculate mean differences in achievement emotions associated with clinical practicums and alternative learning. Results Nursing students who undertook e-learning reported higher negative achievement emotions than those who experienced other alternative learning modalities. Higher achievement emotions were associated with clinical practicums than with alternative learning. The most frequently reported negative emotions were anxiety associated with clinical practicums and boredom with alternative learning. Conclusions Nurse educators should design and implement supportive clinical learning experiences to engender productive achievement emotions. Implications for an international audience: Nurse educators should play roles in providing well-designed and supportive clinical learning environments to help nursing students regulate achievement emotions.