BRIDGING THE GAP: EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES IN BALANCING NURSING THEORY WITH CLINICAL PRACTICE OF BS NURSING STUDENTS

Abstract

The theory–practice gap remains one of the major challenges in nursing education, particularly among BS Nursing students during clinical rotations. Although students receive extensive theoretical instruction in classrooms and skills laboratories, many experience difficulty applying this knowledge effectively in real clinical settings. This study aimed to explore BS Nursing students’ perceptions regarding the alignment between theoretical instruction and clinical procedures and to identify the challenges they faced in balancing nursing theory with clinical practice. A qualitative phenomenological design was used to obtain an in-depth understanding of students’ experiences and perspectives. Purposive sampling was employed to select BS Nursing students who had completed clinical rotations and possessed relevant clinical exposure. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide developed according to the study objectives and related literature. Ethical principles were strictly maintained throughout the study, and informed consent was obtained from all participants before data collection. Confidentiality, anonymity, voluntary participation, and the right to withdraw from the study were ensured. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which resulted in four major themes: theoretical knowledge’s twofold function, clinical application barriers, institutional and supervision difficulties, and psychological repercussions for students. The findings revealed that theoretical knowledge provided students with confidence and technical understanding; however, challenges such as unpredictable patient behavior, inadequate supervision, communication gaps, limited resources, workload pressure, and differences between classroom teaching and ward practices created difficulty in applying theory during clinical care. The study also found that these challenges affected students emotionally by causing fear, anxiety, confusion, and low confidence. The study concluded that a significant gap exists between nursing theory and clinical practice. It is recommended that nursing institutions strengthen collaboration with clinical sites, improve supervision, integrate simulation-based learning, provide supportive clinical environments, and enhance practical training opportunities to bridge the theory–practice gap and improve nursing education outcomes.