Evaluating a clinical partnership model for undergraduate nursing students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Practice
• Higher Education

Background:

• Challenges in clinical experience facilitation for undergraduate nursing students in Australian tertiary education.
• Need for improved models in nurse education following its transfer to the tertiary sector.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a newly implemented partnership model for clinical practice in undergraduate nursing education.
• To identify factors contributing to effective clinical learning environments.

Main Methods:

• Interpretive evaluation approach involving academic staff, clinical affiliates, and students.
• Thematic analysis of qualitative data collected during the first year of implementation.

Main Results:

• Three major themes emerged: familiarity, acceptance and trust, and supportive learning environments.
• Students reported enhanced learning due to clinical affiliates' commitment to teaching.
• Effective linkage between theory and practice was facilitated by credible clinicians.

Conclusions:

• The partnership model positively impacted the clinical learning environment for nursing students.
• Clinical affiliates' dedication and credibility are crucial for effective student support and learning.
• The model successfully addressed challenges in clinical experience facilitation in Australian nursing education.