Physical assessment skills and barriers encountered in clinical setting among nursing students at Duy Tan University

Abstract

Objectives:To assess the physical assessment skills, barriers encountered in clinical setting and to identify related factors in nursing students at Duy Tan University. Method: A cross-sectional study design was utilized among 178 nursing students at Duy Tan University in 2023. Results:Of the 30 physical assessment skills surveyed, 18 were regularly or frequently performed (60%), 11 were occasionally or rarely used (36.4%), and 1 was learned but almost never performed (3.6%, assess for PERRLA). Participants had a mean BNUPAS score of 2.9 ± 0.7. Barriers for these students came mainly from “lack of time and interruptions” (3.3 ±0.9) and “lack of confidence” (3.3 ± 0.6).There were statistically significant differences between academic year, gender, GPA and some physical examination skills (p < 0.05), and no significant differences between those factors and barriers encountered in clinical setting. Conclusion: The physical assessment skills of nursing students need to be improved and there were many barriers encountered in clinical setting.There was a real need for increasing study hours about physical assessment skills and supporting for physical assessment performance during clinical practice by hospital