Being Present: Instructor Support Outweighs All in Clinical Satisfaction among Nursing Students

The clinical learning environment plays a critical role in shaping nursing students’ learning experiences and professional development. Instructor support is often highlighted as a key factor influencing student satisfaction. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nursing students’ satisfaction with the clinical learning environment and their sociodemographic characteristics, with particular attention to instructor support. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 291 diploma nursing students in Malaysia. Data were collected using the validated Malay version of the Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision, and Nurse Teacher (CLES+T) questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used, including Chi-square tests to assess associations between satisfaction levels and demographic variables. Results: Among all variables, only instructor support showed a statistically significant relationship with clinical satisfaction (p = 0.002). Students who rated instructor support as “very helpful†reported higher satisfaction (96.3%) compared to those who rated it as “helpful†(83.0%). Other sociodemographic variables showed no significant associations. Conclusion: Instructor support emerged as the most influential factor in students’ satisfaction with the clinical learning environment. Institutions should prioritize training and consistent involvement of clinical instructors to improve student experiences.