Review : The theory-practice gap and student nurses

■ The theory-practice gap in nursing is a multi-factorial problem

■ Different types of knowledge are used in nursing; some have more credence and value than others

■ Learners are often underestimated by clinical staff, they can provide sophisticated care while being relatively inexperienced

■ 'Reality shock', is perhaps due to a lack of student's emotional readiness to deal with the daily stresses that nursing entails