Research in action-developing and evaluating a student research placement experience.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Primary Health Research
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Evidence-based practice is crucial for modern nursing, but undergraduate programs often lack applied research experience for students.
• Traditional classroom teaching of research methods is often perceived as difficult, unengaging, and disconnected from clinical practice by nursing students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of student nurses who participated in a nurse-led primary research study placement.
• To understand the impact of hands-on research experience on nursing students' learning and professional development.

Main Methods:

• A phenomenological approach was used to explore student nurses' experiences.
• Data were collected through drawings and narration, analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.
• The study involved 18 nursing students from a UK university undertaking a primary research placement on atrial fibrillation detection.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified included skill enhancement, increased confidence, improved communication, and positive research attitudes.
• Students reported enhanced skills, increased confidence, and a more positive attitude towards research.
• Collaboration with researchers and positive public engagement were significant aspects of the experience.

Conclusions:

• Research placements are highly valued by student nurses, offering valuable insight into primary health research.
• Experiential learning in research is more effective than theoretical classroom-based teaching for nursing students.
• The placement enhanced students' communication skills through public interaction, leveraging their student status for engagement.