Developing and piloting a new role to enhance the clinical learning environment

Environments that support pre- and post-registration students' and staff learning are vital to ensure the delivery of high quality patient care by knowledgeable and competent healthcare practitioners. A project was undertaken at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to modernise and enhance preceptorship against a background of national and local drivers. This article describes the development, piloting and evaluation of a new role designed to support and enhance practice learning environments for newly qualified nurses, preceptors, pre-registration nursing students and mentors. The article identifies the factors that affect clinical learning environments and discusses some practical solutions to the challenges associated with learning in practice. Finally, the article offers some recommendations and implications for practice in relation to the pilot outcomes.