Nurse education: a skill mix for the future.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Skills Development
• Healthcare Professional Training

Background:

• Growing concerns exist regarding preregistration nurses lacking essential clinical skills upon program completion.
• The clinical teaching role was historically deprioritized by nurse teachers compared to classroom responsibilities.
• Rapid and significant changes in the nursing education landscape necessitate a review of existing support structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the evolving role of nurse teachers in clinical placement areas.
• To identify and outline potential new models for supporting nursing students in clinical settings.
• To propose a future vision for nurse education, including a revised skill mix.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of the changing nature of the nurse teacher role in clinical environments.
• Identification and description of various proposed models for clinical nurse education.
• Development of a future scenario for nurse education and its required skill mix.

Main Results:

• Several potential new models for nurse teacher roles in clinical areas were identified.
• The study proposes a "link teacher role," "clinical teacher role," "lecturer/practitioner role," and "Clinical Research Fellowships."
• A radical scenario and a future skill mix for nurse education are outlined.

Conclusions:

• The traditional clinical teaching role requires adaptation in response to current educational challenges.
• New models are proposed to enhance the support and skill acquisition of nursing students in clinical placements.
• A forward-thinking approach to nurse education, including a redefined skill mix, is essential for future practice.