The educational needs of part time clinical facilitators

Clinical facilitators play an important role in the clinical practicum component of an undergraduate nursing programme. Part time teachers are often employed in this role, however very little has been written about the needs of these facilitators. An exploratory study design incorporating focus group interviews and questionnaires was used to identify the needs of clinical facilitators at a large Australian university. This study showed that they are committed nurses who often feel inadequate in a role they feel lacks support and identity. The findings of the study have implications for the preparation of clinical facilitators.