Reducing overcrowding on student practice placements

The UK is facing a major shortage of registered nurses. One government strategy for addressing this shortage has been the nationwide increase in the nursing student population. Large student cohorts have resulted in placements being overcrowded with students and, as a consequence, the quality of learning experiences has diminished. A mental health NHS trust in London in partnership with local higher education institutes has created a framework to relieve the pressure on placements. This article discusses the implementation of the framework and outlines the results, challenges and recommendations.