Clinical tool or distraction? Predictors of smartphone use during nursing clinical placements and implications for professional formation

Abstract

Background

Smartphones may support point-of-care learning during nursing clinical placements, but their use also raises concerns about distraction, professionalism, infection prevention, and patient safety.

Aim

To examine smartphone-use frequency during placements and identify factors associated with more frequent use among undergraduate nursing students.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 248 nursing students in Spain.

Results

Smartphone use was generally infrequent, although 10.5% reported habitual use. Use increased across academic years, and leisure use was the strongest independent predictor of more frequent use. More frequent use was also associated with coping motives, feeling safer with the phone available, and perceived risks to professionalism and patient safety. More than half never disinfected their phones, and one-third never performed hand hygiene after use.

Conclusions

Nursing programs should explicitly teach when smartphone use is appropriate for learning during placements and how it differs from leisure use. Clinical placement policies should include device-hygiene guidance and shared expectations for professional smartphone conduct across academic and clinical settings.