This randomized controlled study will aim to evaluate the effect of a peer-supported video and interaction-based clinical orientation program on reality shock and adaptation during the first clinical experience. The study will be conducted with nursing students who will start their first clinical practice. Participants will be randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group will receive a peer-led orientation program including videos recorded in real clinical settings by senior students, interactive question-answer sessions, a structured hospital tour, and ongoing digital communication support. The control group will receive the routine clinical orientation.

Data will be collected at two different time points. The first measurement will be performed at the end of the second week of clinical practice to allow students to experience the clinical adaptation process. The second measurement will be conducted four weeks after the first assessment. Reality shock and clinical adaptation levels will be evaluated using valid and reliable scales. This study is expected to provide evidence on the effectiveness of peer-supported and technology-enhanced orientation strategies in facilitating students' adaptation to clinical environments and contribute to the development of innovative practices in nursing education.

This randomized controlled study will aim to evaluate the effect of a peer-supported video and interaction-based clinical orientation program on reality shock and clinical adaptation among nursing students during their first clinical experience. The study will be conducted with first-year nursing students at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Siirt University, in the spring semester of 2026. Students who meet the inclusion criteria will first be stratified according to gender and grade point average (GPA), and then assigned to the intervention and control groups using computer-assisted block randomization. The sample size was calculated using G*Power, and a total of 90 students will be included in the study.

The intervention group will receive a multi-component peer-supported orientation program, including videos recorded in real clinical settings by senior students, interactive question-answer sessions, a structured hospital tour, peer mentor support during the clinical practice process, and continuous guidance through digital communication groups. The control group will receive the routine verbal clinical orientation provided in the institution.

Data will be collected at two time points. The first measurement will be conducted at the end of the second week of clinical practice to allow students to experience the clinical adaptation process. The second measurement will be performed four weeks after the first assessment. Data will be collected using the Introductory Information Form, the Reality Shock Scale for Nursing Students, and the Clinical Adjustment Scale for Student Nurses. In addition, educational satisfaction will be evaluated in both groups using a visual analog scale (VAS). An open-ended feedback form will be administered only to the intervention group to explore students' experiences and perceptions of the program.

The data will be analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics will be presented, and appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests will be used for group comparisons. Effect sizes will also be calculated. This study is expected to provide evidence on the effectiveness of peer-supported and technology-enhanced clinical preparation programs in reducing reality shock and improving clinical adaptation. The findings may contribute to the development and integration of innovative, student-centered orientation strategies in nursing education.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a first-year nursing student,
• Participating in clinical practice for the first time,
• Being 18 years of age or older,
• Being a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye and having the ability to read and understand Turkish,
• Providing voluntary informed consent to participate in the stud

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having previous clinical practice, internship, or healthcare-related experience,
• Being under 18 years of age,
• Being a foreign national,
• Refusing to participate or withdrawing from the study,
• Inability to attend the orientation program or the data collection process

This study does not involve patient data and is an educational intervention conducted with nursing students. The data obtained will be used solely for research purposes in accordance with ethical principles and regulations on the protection of personal data. All data will be anonymized before analysis, and no information that could reveal participants' identities will be shared. Therefore, individual participant data sharing is not planned.