Development of a Mobile Application to Coordinate Clinical Education and Training of Undergraduate Nursing Students at a University in Gauteng, South Africa

Introduction: Clinical education and training are central to preparing competent, confident nursing practitioners, yet their coordination in South African nursing programmes is frequently undermined by limited resources and poor communication between nursing education institutions and clinical facilities.Objective: This study aimed to develop, pilot, and evaluate a mobile application to coordinate clinical education and training of undergraduate nursing students at a university in Gauteng, South Africa.Methods: A multi-phased design and developmental research (DDR) strategy was used. In Phase 1, a convergent mixed-methods design combined focus group discussions with students and facilitators (n = 26) and a questionnaire administered to undergraduate students (n = 128, 71% response rate) to explore coordination and readiness to adopt mobile technology. Findings informed the development of a mobile application, piloted with 10 students in clinical placement. Ethical approval was obtained from two university research ethics committees.Results: Nearly all students (97.7%) owned a smartphone, had good to exceptionally good computer skills (89.1%), and 89.8% were willing to use a university-designed application; however, 46.9% owned health-related applications and 77.3% rarely or never used mobile applications during placement. Five integrated themes emerged, centred on the need for a mobile application to strengthen coordination and communication. The application was successfully piloted with 10 students, who reported that it exceeded their expectations.Conclusion: Nursing students were ready to adopt mobile technology, and the developed application enhanced coordination of clinical education and training. Wider implementation, supported by equitable access to devices and connectivity, is recommended to sustain these gains.