Has anyone seen the student? Creating a welcoming practice environment for students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Psychology
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Introduction to new environments significantly impacts individuals, particularly patients and students.
• While patients have support systems like the 'Hello my name is…' campaign, students lack equivalent welcoming initiatives.
• A welcoming atmosphere is vital for building rapport and belonging during vulnerable periods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore practical measures for creating a welcoming practice environment for students.
• To address the absence of a formal welcoming process for students in new settings.
• To enhance the initial experience of students, positively influencing their journey.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of existing welcoming strategies in clinical settings.
• Identification of parallels and differences between patient and student experiences.
• Review of literature on environmental psychology and onboarding processes.
• Proposal of practical, adoptable measures for educational institutions.

Main Results:

• Lack of structured welcoming protocols for students in practice environments.
• Vulnerability of students during initial exposure to new settings.
• Potential for practical interventions to significantly improve student integration.
• Importance of fostering a sense of belonging for student well-being.

Conclusions:

• Implementing welcoming practices for students is essential for their integration and success.
• A proactive approach to creating a positive initial experience can mitigate student anxiety.
• Further research into specific interventions can optimize student onboarding in practice settings.