Implications for curriculum development, faculty training, and clinical integration strategies to bridge the theory–practice gap

The findings obtained in this study emphasize the urgent need for curriculum reforms that explicitly integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical practice through competency-based learning, simulation-based training, case-based learning, and early structured clinical exposure. Faculty development programs should focus on strengthening both clinical competency and mentorship skills to enhance effective bedside teaching. Strong institutional partnerships between universities and hospitals are essential for improving supervision, coordination, and student learning experiences. Adequate resource allocation, continuous monitoring of clinical competence, and shared clinical learning platforms can significantly reduce the theory–practice gap and improve the quality of nursing education and patient care.