Clinical teaching by community nurses in the Australian context

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Community Health Nursing

Background:

• Community nurses play a vital role in educating pre-registration nursing students.
• Understanding the factors influencing their clinical teaching effectiveness is crucial for optimizing student learning experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors impacting the clinical teaching role of community nurses.
• To identify facilitators and challenges in their role as educators.
• To inform strategies supporting community nurse clinical teachers.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire administered to community nurses in Western Sydney.
• Quantitative data analysis was employed to identify trends and perceptions.

Main Results:

• Community nurses express strong interest and motivation in clinical teaching, viewing it as integral to their role.
• Key teaching aspects include bridging theory to practice, knowledge sharing, and upholding practice standards.
• Most nurses perceive themselves as effective teachers and are keen to develop their skills.
• Few reported difficulties managing dual teaching and practice roles, though approximately one-third found one-to-one supervision stressful.

Conclusions:

• Community nurses are enthusiastic and effective clinical educators, motivated to enhance their teaching abilities.
• While the dual role is generally manageable, targeted support is needed to address the stress associated with one-to-one student supervision.
• Developing specific strategies can further empower community nurses in their essential educational contributions.