The Effect of Clinical Instructor Versus Peer Assisted Learning on Students' Knowledge and Performance and Clinical Instructor Burnout

Peer-assisted learning is a purposeful component of professional preparation programs in the fields
of nursing. Close supervision and individual feedback were proven to be important in ensuring
effective skills training. Peer tutor system in our skills lab of medical surgical nursing allows intense
training sessions with small learning groups taught by one student tutor. This study aimed at
evaluate the effect of clinical instructor versus peer assisted learning on clinical instructor burnout
and students' knowledge and performance regarding neurological health assessment and evaluate
the effect of peer assisted learning on clinical instructor burnout. Design: Quasi experimental study
was conducted in Faculty of Nursing at Tanta University. Methods: Study subject comprises two
groups; 170 second year nursing students group and 40 clinical instructors working in Medical
surgical Nursing Department group during the academic year 2019/2020, each of both groups was
divided randomly and equally into two equal groups. Three tools were used in this study Tool I:
Knowledge assessment questionnaires: It was consisted of two parts: Part 1, Student's - socio
demographic data and Part 2,Student's knowledge assessment sheet, Tool II, Neurological health
assessment Student's performance observational checklist and Tool III, Maslach Burnout Inventory.
The main results from the study reported that students who were thought by clinical instructors
reported higher level of knowledge and higher total practice than those who were thought by their
peer. The current study reported no statistical differences in the level of burnout among clinical
instructors in both groups with a little pit higher burnout level among clinical instructor group.
Conclusions: Based on the finding of the study, it can be concluded that: Peer assisted learning
(PAL) has been shown to be as effective as a learning method on knowledge and skills of nursing
students regarding neurological health assessment. Also, the current study reported no statistical
differences in the level of burnout among clinical instructors in both groups with a little pit higher
burnout level among clinical instructor group. The study recommended that, integrate both PAL
and clinical instructors learning into nursing education to provide the most effective learning and to
overcome the limited numbers nursing staff.