Evaluation of a virtual practice placement: A model to increase student capacity

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Digital Health

Background:

• Global health systems face nursing shortages, impacting care quality and training capacity.
• Traditional clinical placements are limited in scope and availability for nursing students.
• This study explores a novel virtual practice placement as a solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a new virtual practice placement for pre-registration nursing students.
• To assess student experiences and perceived value of the virtual placement.
• To identify best practices for virtual placement delivery.

Main Methods:

• An online virtual practice placement was developed and implemented.
• Student feedback was collected via an eight-question questionnaire post-placement.
• Data included quantitative ratings and qualitative thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• 188 students provided feedback on the virtual placement experience.
• High median and mean satisfaction scores were reported across adult, child, mental health, and learning disability nursing students.
• Key themes included enhanced understanding of community care, improved interpersonal skills, and perceived career benefits.

Conclusions:

• Virtual placements are a feasible adjunct to traditional nursing education.
• Successful implementation requires significant resources and skilled facilitators.
• Principles for best practice in virtual placement delivery were established.