First-year nursing students' collaboration using peer learning during clinical practice education: An observational...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Practice
• Collaborative Learning

Background:

• Peer learning in nursing education shows positive outcomes.
• Limited research exists on real-life student collaboration dynamics.
• Observational studies on peer learning in clinical settings are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe first-year nursing student collaboration during clinical practice.
• To observe peer learning in a real-world clinical context.
• To identify competencies developed through collaborative peer learning.

Main Methods:

• Observational study of sixteen nursing students in eight pairs.
• Conducted 164 hours of observation over seven months (2015-2016).
• Utilized repeated unstructured observations and informal conversations, followed by qualitative content analysis.

Main Results:

• One overarching theme: 'Involuntary collaboration leads to growth in different competencies'.
• Three categories identified: practicing skills together, establishing knowledge mutually, and verbalizing thoughts/feelings.
• Observed development in organization, nursing leadership, teaching, and supervision competencies.

Conclusions:

• Peer learning facilitates the development of various nursing competencies in students.
• Observed competencies extend beyond those typically elicited in prior research.
• This study provides insights into the practical application of peer learning in nursing education.