Abstract:
Background: Clinical nursing internship program provides tremendous opportunities for nursing students to successfully transfer from educational classroom to clinical settings. Under one year supervision, nurses intern are guided towards mastery of nursing skills and improved patient service. Internships also provide the opportunity to explore various responsibilities in different nursing fields through rotations. Aim of the study: To assess the internship program strengths and weaknesses as perceived by nurses intern of Tanta University Faculty of Nursing. Setting: The study was conducted at Tanta Main University Hospital. Subjects: Sample was included all 289 nurses intern during their internship year training at medical, surgical, neonatal, anaesthia, pediatric, cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology units. Tool: Data was collected by using a questionnaire sheet. It was included three parts. I-Demographic data about the sample, II- emphasis of internship program according to domains of National Competency Standard and III- four subscales (Opportunities offered by clinical environment support, Level of Confidence in nursing practice , Perception to role of preceptor (supervisor) and Perception to Conflicts and rotation).Results and Conclusion: Results revealed that strengths of internship program at Tanta University Hospital as perceived by nurses intern showed that high emphasis put on rotation, level of confidence in nursing practice and domains of competency. While the weaknesses showed that little emphasis put on avoid conflict, role of supervisor and opportunities offered in clinical environment. Recommendations: Prime importance the availability of clinical preceptors, structured orientation program, coordination between faculty and hospital, evaluating system and feedback and strategies to avoid conflict and lateral violence.