Nursing education is not just about mastering theory—it is about transforming knowledge into confident, competent clinical practice. Still, studies consistently show that many nursing students struggle to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-life clinical skills. Urinary catheterization is among the most challenging procedures, as it is a fundamental yet delicate task. It involves high patient-safety risks and offers limited opportunities for hands-on practice.
I would like to share a randomized controlled trial we conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of video-based self-assessment in teaching urinary catheterization, a clinical skill, to nursing students. While the control group received traditional training on urinary catheterization placement, the experimental group combined the same training with video-assisted learning. Students in the experimental group recorded their catheterization practice on their own smartphones, reviewed the videos, and evaluated their performance using a structured checklist before repeating the procedure two weeks later.
The results were striking: although theoretical knowledge scores did not differ significantly between the two groups, students who used video-based self-assessment demonstrated a remarkable improvement in practical catheterization skills (p <0.001). Watching and analyzing their own performances allowed students to identify mistakes, correct them, and gain greater self-confidence in performing clinical procedures.
This fairly simple method encouraged active engagement, critical reflection, and self-directed learning, transforming students from passive recipients of information into active participants in their professional growth.
The findings highlight the potential of integrating video-based tools into nursing curricula to reduce the long-standing theory-practice gap. Using everyday technology, such as smartphones, offers a low-cost, accessible, and effective approach to improving students’ competence and confidence in performing urinary catheterization.
As nursing education continues to evolve, video-based self-assessment stands out as a simple but powerful innovation—one that not only enhances skill performance but also empowers future nurses to take ownership of their learning. In the classroom of the future, a smartphone camera might just be the most valuable clinical tool.
Hanife Durgun
University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science
I am a postdoctoral researcher. My role as a postdoctoral researcher in nursing science: highlighting my main research areas such as palliative care, pressure ulcer prevention, and foot health in end-of-life care. In my academic work, I focus on pioneering studies on innovative technologies in nursing practice and education.
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