Clinical practice: where does the nurse teacher fit?

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Higher Education Integration
• Clinical Supervision

Background:

• Changing patterns in nurse education, including diploma qualifications and higher education integration.
• Uncertainty surrounding the nurse teacher's role in clinical practice and bedside care.
• Lack of a coordinated professional response to bridge the theory-practice gap after the clinical teacher role's decline.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the challenges and implications of the nurse teacher's role in clinical placements.
• To examine the impact of healthcare and higher education organization on the nurse teacher's clinical function.
• To clarify the essential role of nurse teachers in supporting student nurses and defining their own professional identity within higher education.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of the current state of nurse education.
• Examination of the impact of organizational changes in healthcare and higher education.
• Review of professional discourse and expressed needs of nurse educators.

Main Results:

• Nurse teachers desire to improve care quality but face barriers to fulfilling practice roles.
• The demise of the clinical teacher role has left a void in addressing the theory-practice gap.
• Future healthcare and higher education structures will significantly influence the nurse teacher's clinical role.

Conclusions:

• The clinical role of the nurse teacher is crucial for effective student supervision in placements.
• Defining the nurse teacher's role within higher education is essential for their professional practice.
• A clear understanding and support for the nurse teacher's clinical function are vital for quality nursing education.