Supporting students in clinical practice: pre-registration nursing students' views on the role of the lecturer

Learning in clinical practice is an essential aspect of student nurse education yet debate persists in the United Kingdom regarding the role of the lecturer in supporting the student within clinical practice. This debate has been rekindled with developments in mentorship and establishment of a clinical role designed to facilitate and support mentors; the Practice Education Facilitator. Hence it is timely to re-examine the role of the lecturer in providing clinical support to students. This article discusses nursing students' views of clinical support provided by lecturers on a Diploma/Degree programme. Qualitative and quantitative data was obtained from an online questionnaire which indicated that students thought the most important part of the lecturers' role was to provide academic support for assignments. The students also appreciated lecturers visiting them in clinical placement to facilitate the student-mentor relationship and to provide personal support. It is argued, that with the enhancement of other supportive mechanisms for students and mentors and the current economic climate, lecturers should work in partnership with mentors and practice education facilitators to avoid duplication of effort. The students in this evaluation suggested that academic support for assignments should be the main focus for lecturers.