Nurse educators are responsible for both didactic and clinical education. Much thought and planning goes into determining clinical content and clinical placements. Before you can negotiate clinical partnerships, you must decide on the type of clinical experiences students need and where they can get them. After completing this week's reading, and reflecting on your experiences as a student, consider how an educator should go about making these kinds of decisions.
Initial Post: Use these prompts to think about the topic and share your ideas.
How would things like active learning, action and reflection, and higher level thinking influence your decisions about student placement (i.e. where would you place new students vs. senior students and why)?
Scheduling students on the same floor for longer periods of time allows students to adjust and feel comfortable in the learning environment. On the other hand, more frequent changes may provide a greater variety of clinical experiences. As an educator, how do you choose? Which do you prefer? Which do you think students prefer? Support your answers with information about best practices.
What balance of clinical observation vs. hands on care is optimal and why?
Who should have the greater role in guiding and supervising students on a clinical floor, the instructor or staff nurses/preceptors? How might this be negotiated/configured.
Full Answer Section
Scheduling students on the same floor for longer periods of time can allow them to:
Build relationships with staff nurses and preceptors
Become more familiar with the unit's culture and routines
Develop a deeper understanding of patient care needs
On the other hand, more frequent changes can provide students with a greater variety of clinical experiences. This can help them to:
Learn about different patient populations and care settings
Develop a more well-rounded understanding of nursing practice
Ultimately, the best approach will depend on the specific needs of the students and the learning objectives of the program.
Balance of clinical observation vs. hands on care
The balance of clinical observation versus hands-on care will depend on the student's level of experience and learning objectives. New students will need more time to observe and learn before they are ready to provide hands-on care. As students become more experienced, they should have more opportunities to practice their skills.
Role of instructor vs. staff nurses/preceptors
The instructor and staff nurses/preceptors should work together to guide and supervise students on the clinical floor. The instructor should provide overall guidance and support, while the staff nurses/preceptors should provide more hands-on instruction and supervision.
The amount of supervision that students need will vary depending on their level of experience. New students will need more close supervision, while more experienced students may be able to work more independently.
Here are some additional considerations for nurse educators:
The availability of clinical placements
The learning objectives of the program
The needs of the students
The resources available to the program
By carefully considering all of these factors, nurse educators can make informed decisions about student placement, scheduling, and clinical experience.
Sample Answer
Active learning, action and reflection, and higher level thinking
When determining clinical placements, nurse educators should consider the different learning styles and needs of their students. Active learning, which involves students being actively engaged in the learning process, has been shown to be more effective than traditional passive learning methods. Action and reflection, which involve students reflecting on their experiences and applying their knowledge to practice, can also be valuable tools for learning.
Higher level thinking skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making, are essential for nurses. Clinical placements should provide students with opportunities to develop and practice these skills.
Scheduling students on the same floor for longer periods of time vs. more frequent changes
There are both pros and cons to scheduling students on the same floor for longer periods of time versus more frequent changes.