Managing capacity issues in clinical placements for pre-registration nurses

To explore influences on decision-making concerning placement capacity planning for supporting nursing students in clinical placements. The research questions were: * How are decisions relating to capacity planning and management of the learning environment made within the practice areas? * What factors were or are perceived as important to take into consideration when making these decisions?

It is already known that clinical placements are pivotal to pre-registration nurse education. The recent large expansion of nurse education places means that more students require clinical placements than previously. This study explored decision-making about placement capacity amongst mentors in one central English county.

A qualitative design using focus groups. STUDY AND METHODS: Collecting data allowed researchers to engage mentors in discussions concerning their decisions about how many students they could support in practice and the learning environment they could provide. Twenty-nine active nursing student mentors participated, representing three branches (Adult, Mental Health and Child Health Nursing) from various acute and community settings and professional roles.

Three themes emerged relating to capacity management issues in clinical placements: * Capacity issues: how decisions are made in relation to capacity planning, by whom they are made and what influences them? * Supporting learners and enhancing support in practice. * Issues impacting on learning in practice.

This study adds further understanding of the need for robust information to support allocation decisions, coupled with greater clinical staff and mentors' involvement in decisions about student support. The forthcoming Skills for Health Ensuring Quality in Partnership requirements may add authority and structure to student support activities.

Strategic practice and placement development links and joint appointments between UK NHS trusts and higher education institutions should be considered if placement capacity issues are to be addressed successfully and the quality of students' placements are to be safeguarded.