Clinical practice and placement support: supporting learning in practice

It is the responsibility of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in partnership with the NHS to prepare nurses and midwives who are equipped to cope with the complex nature of clinical practice. This paper explores how, through partnership working, the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SNM) at the University of Dundee developed a Clinical Practice and Placement Support Unit (CPPSU) whose remit is to support learning in practice. The setting up of this successful unit resulted from the clear identification of three key elements which enables the CPPSU to support learning in practice. These elements are adequate mentor support, developing and monitoring the clinical learning environment and increased collaboration between the HEI and service providers in the allocation of students to appropriate practice placement areas. Each of these will be explored in depth in order to give an overview of how the CPPSU delivers its remit.