An acute hospital ward, densely populated with students during a 12-week clinical study period

This article presents some thoughts and ideas about a different way to organize clinical studies for nursing students. The model involved a large group (12 to 15) of third-year nursing students taking their 12-week clinical study period on the same acute geriatric hospital ward. Difficulties with finding enough clinical study venues, together with a belief in peer learning and situated learning as important for learning, were the main reasons for trying out a model with many students doing clinical studies on the same ward. The model has been used twice, and evaluations showed that students believed the clinical study period had given them the opportunity to develop their nursing competence. Most of the students experienced cooperation with other students as self-developing. Staff experienced this model as a positive influence on students' professional development and as stimulating for the professionalism of the ward.