Evaluating the impact of a coaching pilot on students and staff

A coaching pilot was developed following the publication of a number of reports that recommended a review into how student nurses are taught in clinical practice. A bespoke version of the Collaborative Learning in Practice (CLiP) model was developed, which used both coaching and peer learning to encourage students to lead the delivery of care for a designated group of patients. A senior student led a team consisting of two junior students and they were given the responsibility of directing and coordinating the team in the manner expected of a registered nurse. A qualified nurse was responsible for the supervision of the students and used a coaching approach to teach. Findings from an evaluation revealed that the students benefitted from being able to work autonomously and were able to enhance their leadership and management skills.