Beyond simulation - Extracurricular volunteering in nursing education: A focus group

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Experiential Learning
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Reduced clinical placement hours in Australian nursing education necessitate alternative teaching methods.
• Simulated patient programs are common but may not fully replicate real-world learning opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the learning experiences of undergraduate nursing students participating in supervised, extracurricular volunteer health programs.
• To understand the value of real-world patient contact in nursing education.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative design was employed.
• Seven second-year undergraduate nursing students participated in a men's health check program (Pit Stop) as volunteers.
• Data were collected via a semi-structured focus group interview and analyzed thematically.

Main Results:

• Volunteering provided valuable real-life learning experiences, enhancing communication and clinical skills beyond simulation.
• Students reported increased confidence and competence, driven by a desire for direct patient contact and diverse practice exposure.
• Participants recommended future volunteering initiatives for additional learning opportunities.

Conclusions:

• Supervised volunteering offers a valuable supplement to traditional nursing education, addressing limitations in clinical exposure.
• Experiential learning with human patients is highly desired by students to build confidence and competence.
• Integrating such opportunities can better prepare competent and confident nurse graduates.