Reflecting on the learning experiences of student nurses in rural Uganda

This article presents the first author, Wanda Lovett's experiences of pre-qualifying nurse education in rural Uganda, with a particular focus on promoting effective learning within community placements. The culture and context of health care and of nurse education are very different in this area when compared to the UK. Additionally there are a number of challenges associated with the mentorship of nursing students in practice, both in relation to facilitating learning and to the assessment of competence. This article describes the author's experiences of developing a more appropriate approach that reflects adult-centred learning, to promote the level of thinking that students will need to meet the demands of their roles once qualified.