Clinical Instructors' Awareness of Legal and Ethical Standards and the Perceived Scope of Practice Breach Among Nursing Students in Clinical Training

Clinical training is a vital component of nursing education that allows nursing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real healthcare settings. However, breaches in the scope of practice among nursing students remain a major ethical and legal concern that may compromise patient safety and professional accountability. This study aimed to determine the level of awareness of clinical instructors regarding legal and ethical standards in nursing practice and its relationship with the perceived incidence of scope-of-practice breaches among nursing students during clinical training. Specifically, the study examined the awareness of clinical instructors, the extent of perceived scope-of-practice violations, and the predictive relationship between awareness and perceived breaches. The study utilized a quantitative descriptive-correlational research design involving 100 clinical instructors from selected nursing schools and affiliated hospitals in Central Luzon, Philippines. Data were gathered using a validated researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. Findings revealed that clinical instructors demonstrated a high level of awareness of ethical and legal standards in nursing practice. The perceived incidence of nursing students’ breaches of scope of practice was assessed as moderate. Correlation analysis showed a significant inverse relationship between clinical instructors’ awareness and the perceived incidence of scope-of-practice breaches. Regression analysis further revealed that awareness significantly predicted the occurrence of perceived practice breaches among nursing students. The findings imply that strengthening clinical instructors’ ethical and legal awareness may contribute to safer clinical learning environments and improved supervision of nursing students. Nursing schools and healthcare institutions should implement continuous professional development programs focusing on ethics, legal accountability, and clinical supervision to enhance patient safety and professional competence in nursing education.