Introduction

Nursing students need specific knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in order to provide quality of care; and the clinical practices represent an ideal context to develop some of these required competences.

Objective

To explore the perceptions of nursing students about their own experiences in their clinical practices.

Method

This a qualitative descriptive study with social and critical focus. 45 practice-files from nursing students in the 4th course of a Mexico Red Cross School of Nursing were analyzed considering the following stages: data reduction, categorization-coding, data presentation, and data verification and conclusions. Data saturation was reached from the identified categories.

Results

From the data analysis, diverse units of meaning emerged within three main categories: learning in practices, difficulties in the environment, and personal and professional growth.

Conclusions

The study highlights the importance of clinical practices since it is there where students apply in real life what they learn in the classroom. The relationship between the student and the clinical environment greatly determines the quality of learning. So, it is suggested that students keep in mind reflecting on their to know, to know how, and to know how to be.