How to develop nursing student practice placement opportunities in care homes

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Geriatric Care
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Care homes are historically underutilized as practice placement settings for nursing students.
• There is a strategic initiative by NHS England to expand nursing placements into non-traditional settings like care homes.
• Skills for Care provides a strategy to ensure high-quality social care placements for nursing students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a step-by-step guide for care home nurses and managers on developing practice placement opportunities.
• To outline the benefits of care home placements for nursing students, staff, and residents.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration between care homes and approved education institutions.
• Internal staff engagement to create an optimal learning environment.
• Focus on developing a multiprofessional learning experience.

Main Results:

• Care home placements offer students exposure to multiprofessional environments and holistic care of older adults.
• Hosting students can invigorate the care home workforce.
• Student interaction enhances resident engagement and feelings of value.

Conclusions:

• Care homes can successfully develop and host nursing student placements.
• These placements provide mutual benefits, enhancing student learning and enriching the care home environment.
• This guide supports the expansion of nursing education into diverse healthcare settings.