Development of a meaningful learning environment in theatres

During the 1990s, geographical distancing of clinical areas and nurse education establishments led to breakdowns in communication. This article focuses on how Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust and the University of Central England in Birmingham created a meaningful learning environment for student nurses in the operating theatre using a revised version of Crofts and Taylor's (1996) perioperative placement model. The student evaluation has demonstrated that the quality of placement, teaching and supervision were of a high standard and students felt that their nursing skills had been enriched as a direct result of the placement. This article will also examine the background to student placements in the operating theatre.