FACTORS AFFECTING THE GAP BETWEEN THE THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE NURSES IN IMAM REZA HOSPITAL AND NURSING STUDENTS IN NURSING AND MIDWIFERY SCHOOL IN KERMANSHAH, 2015

The gap between theoretical knowledge and practice provided challenges in a
critical way in clinical services. Therefore, current study aimed to determine the factors affecting the
gap between knowledge and practice in 2015.
Materials & Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 375 people (217 nurses from Imam
Reza hospital, and 158 nursing students from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences) in 2015.
The data collection tool was a researcher made questionnaire consisted of 23 questions about the factors
affecting the gap between knowledge and practice. Pearson correlation and t-test were employed to
analyze the collected data using SPSS 16 software.
Results: Total average of the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical nursing services was
reported 51.67±11.22 (based on 100 points) that was in the range of high. Shortage of nurses (84.28),
support from head nurse (77.62) and lack of adequate facilities (73.67) from the perspective of nurses,
and clinical instructors teaching style (88.25±17.09), shortage of nurses (79.18) and lack of updated
knowledge of nursing (31.73) from the perspective of nursing students was reported to be as the most
important factors influencing the gap between theoretical learning and clinical nursing services.
Conclusion: There is a high gap between theoretical learning and clinical nursing services, therefore in
order to fill this gap; it is recommended to amend both educational and clinical aspects. In educational
aspect, clinical education style should be reformed and also experienced coaches should be used. In
clinical aspect, it is necessary to employ more nurses and to support nursing managers and head nurses.