Developing activities to help students achieve learning outcomes in practice placements

The transfer of nurse education into higher education institutions in the late 1990s resulted in the separation of nursing practice and education. Since then, it has often been difficult for student nurses in practice placements to demonstrate that they have achieved their learning outcomes in relation to the assessment tool. Many have asked for support with fulfilling this requirement. Mentors have expressed concern about how best to provide this because ideas on how to gather evidence of what a student is achieving in practice differ significantly. Also, mentors needed help to understand academic jargon used in assessment documentation to ensure equity in the assessment process. This article describes a collaborative project between practice staff and academics to help and support students and mentors when providing evidence that learning outcomes have been achieved in practice placements.