Registered nurse buddies: Educators by proxy?

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Supervision

Background:

• The informal clinical teaching role of the 'buddy nurse' is a uniquely Australian term with inconsistent international equivalents.
• Registered nurses (RNs) are expected to facilitate student clinical learning without formal professional development for this informal role.
• Existing literature primarily focuses on formal nurse educator roles, with limited information on the informal buddy nurse position.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the buddy nurse role within the Australian context, referencing limited available literature.
• To explore international perspectives on informal clinical education roles for RNs with similar responsibilities.
• To stimulate discussion and inform policy for enhanced support of the buddy nurse role in Australia.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on the Australian buddy nurse role.
• Comparative analysis of international literature on informal clinical nurse educator roles.
• Synthesis of findings to highlight similarities and differences.

Main Results:

• The Australian buddy nurse role is characterized by a lack of clarity, support, and structure.
• International roles with similar responsibilities to the Australian buddy nurse exist but are not consistently named.
• There is a significant gap in the literature concerning informal nurse educator roles.

Conclusions:

• The buddy nurse role in Australia requires greater definition, support, and professional development.
• International comparisons offer insights into potential models for improving the buddy nurse role.
• Addressing the informal clinical teaching role is crucial for effective nursing education and workforce development.