Introduction: Clinical experiences are so pivotal in nursing education and prepare nursing students to expose with real clinical situations. The study purpose was to explore the pathology of clinical training in medical surgical nursing at nursing faculties.

Methods: The qualitative study was conducted on 20 nursing students during their clinical training on medicinal surgical courses in 2014 by census methods. The selection of clinical trainers was performed by purposeful sampling and research process through individual and group semi-structured interviews. Interviews continued until data saturation was met and five-step analysis of Lundman and Graneheim was applied for data analysis.

Results: After the analysis of individual and group interviews, 694 primary codes were derived, which were categorized in three main themes including the following: factors related to coaching with sub-categorizations of competency, attitude to the practice, interpersonal communications, evaluation and supervision; factors related to educational planning with sub-categorizations of coach devoting, clinical environment, and ineffective planning; and ultimately factors related to Logbook or assessment form with sub-categorizations of content problems of Logbook or assessing form, time consumption of Logbook completion, and mental problems for accepting the Logbook or assessment form.

Conclusions: It is so necessary to direct authorities' attention to clinical ward improvement, selection of professional and empowered trainers, and holding educational courses for coaching; because the amelioration of clinical education quality according to the main mission of nursing education will result in safe care from patients.