Staffing of undergraduate clinical learning programs in Australia

Clinical practicum experience arguably forms a critical role in the undergraduate preparation for registration to practice as a professional nurse. Whilst there appears to be a consensus about the importance of practical experience in nursing education, there has been limited research exploring the nature of clinical learning within undergraduate programs and validity of current approaches. A national survey of undergraduate preregistration Bachelor of Nursing courses was conducted to determine the scope and focus of clinical learning programs in Australia. Selected case studies were conducted to develop an understanding of contextual issues influencing the delivery of the clinical learning programs. Findings reveal a range of clinical supervision models employed and the staffing mix used to support those models. Issues associated with the selection and preparation of staff to support clinical learning relate to geographical location and economic resources. There is little empirical evidence that any of the models currently in use lead to quality outcomes, rather an eclectic use of models arguably facilitates meeting short-term demands of a constantly changing educational environment.