Summary of Rural Clinic Placement Evaluations

The placements aimed to provide clinical experience for second year general nursing students and midwifery students, improving their clinical skills and exposure to health-related issues in Lesotho. The overall goal was to advance the students' clinical competencies in health promotion and disease prevention, as well as curative services in primary care settings. Three health centers were selected for the second year nursing students: Mohale HC, Nazareth HC, and Fatima HC. Mohale HC is a government-owned facility located 63 kilometers from Roma College of Nursing, with electricity and water available. The clinic serves approximately 2,000 patients monthly and has two nurses and one trained nurse assistant on staff. Students were housed in unused wards within the clinic. Nazareth HC is a semi-urban facility located 23 kilometers from Roma College of Nursing, with electricity and water available. The clinic serves approximately 276 outpatient visits each month and has one nurse clinician, two nurses, and two trained nurse assistants on staff. Students were housed off-site in rented accommodations. Fatima HC is a government-owned facility located 31 kilometers from Roma College of Nursing, with water and solar power available. The clinic serves approximately 549 outpatient visits each month and has one nurse clinician, one nurse, and two trained nurse assistants on staff. Students were housed on-site in staff housing. The methodology involved a Likert scale survey accompanied by open-ended questions for students, clinical faculty, and clinic staff. The objectives of the evaluation were to assess rural clinical venues, identify strengths and limitations, provide an opportunity for feedback, and assist clinical venues in improving the learning environment. Quantitative data from the Likert scale was analyzed by comparing the percentages of students' responses to a statement. Individual scores between different health centers were compared for clinical faculty and clinic staff. The student responses to open-ended questions were reviewed and categories were developed to define the most common responses. The results showed that students generally had positive perceptions of the placements. At Mohale HC, students appreciated the conducive learning atmosphere, well-equipped clinic, and supportive staff. At Nazareth HC, students praised the learning environment, availability of materials, and user-friendly staff. At Fatima HC, students appreciated the good learning experience, well-equipped clinic, and supportive staff. The diversity of clinical learning opportunities was also highlighted as a strength of the placements. Students reported learning about various health conditions, vaccines, and treatments, including HIV screening and ART. The placements provided students with valuable exposure to primary care settings and the opportunity to develop their clinical skills. The limitations of the study included the potential for respondents to interpret the Likert scale differently. To limit bias, the quantitative data was analyzed by combining "agree" and "strongly agree" statements. The results of the study provide valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of rural clinical placements for nursing students in Lesotho.