A clinical learning milieu: nurse clinicians' attitudes to tertiary education and teaching

A target population of 742 registered nurses (RNs) who had direct contact or potential for direct contact with college nursing students were surveyed regarding their attitudes to the transfer of undergraduate nurse education to the tertiary sector, and to helping teach/supervise students. The RNs were located at 19 of 21 hospitals providing clinical experience for students of one college during semester one in 1989; 490 (66%) returned completed questionnaires. These bedside nurse clinicians were clearly divided on whether the transfer would ultimately benefit the nursing profession. Despite this, nearly all preferred to work in a hospital providing clinical experience for college students; they saw teaching as an essential part of the RN's role and gained satisfaction from it.