The Lived Experience of Nursing Faculty in a Dedicated Education Unit

The dedicated education unit (DEU) was developed as an innovation to increase enrollment capacity and secure stable clinical placement sites in units that provide an optimal learning environment. The purpose of this multisite study was to describe, interpret, and offer insight into the meanings of the lived experiences of nursing faculty who had transitioned to teaching in a DEU.

Semistructured private interviews were conducted using an interpretive phenomenological approach.

The three themes that emerged were Preparing for, Adapting to, and Sustaining a New Synergy of Learning. Each theme had two to four subthemes.

New DEU faculty may face decisions about physical presence, the nature of their interactions with staff nurse clinical instructors and students, and tactful approaches to managing practice issues. This study informs faculty how they can best prepare for success and promote sustainability. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(12):669-674.].