PERCEPTION AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS CLINICAL NURSING EDUCATION AMONG NURSING STUDENTS OF ELIZADE UNIVERSITY, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the perceptions and attitudes of nursing students at Elizade University, Nigeria, towards clinical education, guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior. The specific objectives were to assess students' perceptions of clinical nursing education, evaluate their attitudes and willingness to engage, identify influencing factors, and determine the perceived impact on learning outcomes, including clinical competence and professional development. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 138 students across 300, 400, and 500 levels through a systematically distributed questionnaire. Formal approval was obtained from the Dean of Student Affairs, and ethical standards were maintained throughout the process. Participants were fully informed, and confidentiality and voluntariness were ensured. Results showed that 64% of the students were under 25 years of age, with 86% female and 97% single. Most students held a positive perception of clinical nursing education, with 55.8% agreeing that it provided opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge, and 60.1% strongly agreeing that diverse patient encounters broadened their understanding. However, 58% felt that the clinical environment and resources were not conducive to effective learning. Attitudes were generally positive, with 71.7% agreeing that the workload was manageable and 94.2% acknowledging that clinical education helped develop essential skills. While 79% felt adequately prepared by classroom learning, nearly half (48.6%) disagreed that stress and workload management strategies were effectively addressed. Clinical rotations significantly enhanced knowledge (98.6%), confidence (95.7%), communication skills (97.8%), critical thinking (91.3%), and overall academic performance (94.9%). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency counts and percentages, with SPSS version 25. The study recommends fostering a positive clinical environment through teamwork and student participation, improved preceptor support, interprofessional opportunities, and technology integration to better prepare future nurses for contemporary healthcare settings. Keywords: Clinical Education, Nursing Students, Perceptions, Attitudes, Learning Outcomes Word count: 284