Abstract
Nursing programs encounter barriers to clinical education, which may include limited clinical capacity for nursing students. Congestion of clinical placements compounded by multiple external influences prompted a need to develop an alternative approach for meeting program standards pertaining to clinical education. A curriculum improvement project was implemented within a school of nursing with the primary goal of expanding clinical learning opportunities while maintaining program quality. The unique aspect of this project was a comprehensive evaluative design, including qualitative responses from students, faculty, and clinical site stakeholders, as well as standardized student test scores. Augmenting the tools and processes for evaluation of clinical learning required collaboration from the faculty. Project outcomes include expanded clinical capacity, increased variety of clinical learning experiences, and improved quality of the clinical experiences. Collaborative partnerships yielded valuable lessons, which have implications for other nursing programs challenged with clinical placements.
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). State legislative initiatives to address the nursing shortage. (AACN Issue Bulletin). Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/aacn-publications/issue-bulletin/state-legislativeSearch in Google Scholar
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2008) Nursing shortage fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/FactSheets/NursingShortage.htmSearch in Google Scholar
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2012). Guiding principles for academic-practice partnerships. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/leading-initiatives/academic-practice-partnerships/GuidingPrinciples.pdfSearch in Google Scholar
Amerson, R. (2010). The impact of service-learning on cultural competence. Nursing Education Perspectives, 31, 18–22.Search in Google Scholar
Campus Compact. (1999–2014). National service learning clearinghouse. Retrieved from http://www.compact.orgSearch in Google Scholar
Clare, J., Brown, D., Edwards, H., van Loon, A., Leibbrandt, L., Malko-Nyhan, K., & White, J. (2003). Learning outcomes and curriculum development in major disciplines: Nursing. Evaluating clinical learning environments: Creating education-practice partnerships and benchmarking for nursing. Research report. Flinders University, Australia. Retrieved from March http://nursing.flinders.edu.au/research/reports/special_pubs_Clare.pdfSearch in Google Scholar
Delunus, L., & Rooda, L. (2009). A new model for the clinical instruction of undergraduate nurses. Nursing Education Perspectives, 30, 377–382.Search in Google Scholar
Edwards, H., Smith, S., Courtney, M., Finlayson, K., & Chapman, H. (2004). The impact of clinical placement location on nursing students’ competence and preparedness for practice. Nurse Education Today, 24, 248–255.10.1016/j.nedt.2004.01.003Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Ellenbecker, C. O., O’Brien, E., & ByrneK. (2002). Establishing partnerships with social service agencies for community health education. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 19, 1–6.10.1207/S15327655JCHN1901_01Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Elliott, M. (2002). The clinical environment: A source of stress for undergraduate nurses. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 20, 34–38.Search in Google Scholar
Harrison, S. (2004). Overcrowded placements hinder student learning. Nursing Standard, 18, 7.10.7748/ns.18.22.7.s14Search in Google Scholar
Henderson, A., Heel, A., & Twentyman, M. (2007). Enabling student placement through strategic partnerships between a health-care organization and tertiary Institutions. Journal of Nursing Management, 15, 91–96.10.1111/j.1365-2934.2006.00634.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
Hoffart, N. D. (2006). Outcomes of cooperative education in a baccalaureate program in nursing education. Nursing Education Perspectives, 27(3), 136–143.Search in Google Scholar
Hunsberger, M., Baumann, A., Lappan, J., Carter, N., & Goddard, P. (2000). The synergism of expertise in clinical teaching: An integrative model for nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education, 39, 278–282.10.3928/0148-4834-20000901-09Search in Google Scholar
Hutchings, A., Williamson, G., & Humphreys, A. (2005). Supporting learners in clinical practice: Capacity issues. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 14, 945–955.10.1111/j.1365-2702.2005.01239.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
Institute of Medicine. (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health.aspxSearch in Google Scholar
Jeffries, P. (2009). Dreams for the future for clinical simulation. Nursing Education Perspective, 30(2), 71.Search in Google Scholar
Joynt, J., & Kimball, B. (2008, May). Blowing open the bottleneck: Designing new approaches to increase nurse education capacity. Champion Nursing. Retrieved from http://championnursing.org/sites/default/files/1695_BlowingOpentheBottleneck.pdfSearch in Google Scholar
Kaufman, K. A. (2010). Students are increasingly diverse but lack of educational capacity still stymies enrollment growth. National League for Nursing, 1(5), 95–97.Search in Google Scholar
Matsumura, G. C., Callister, L. C., PalmerS., Harmer, A. C., & Larsen, L. (2004). Staff nurse perceptions of the contributions of students to clinical agencies. Nursing Education Perspectives, 25, 297–303.Search in Google Scholar
McLaughlin, J. A., & Jordan, G. B. (2010). Using logic models. In J. S. Wholey, H. P. Hatry, & K. E. Newcomer (Eds.), Handbook of practical program evaluation (3rd ed., 55–80). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Search in Google Scholar
Murray, S. C., & Williamson, G. R. (2009). Managing capacity issues in clinical placements for pre-registration nurses. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18, 3146–3154.10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02693.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
National League for Nursing. (2010, August). Nursing faculty shortage fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.nln.org/governmentaffairs/pdf/NurseFacultyShortage.pdfSearch in Google Scholar
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2012). Partners investing in nursing’s future. Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/national-program-offices/P/partners-investing-in-nursing-s-future.htmlSearch in Google Scholar
Seifer, S., & Vaughn, R. L. (2002). Partners in caring and community: Service-learning in education. Journal of Nursing Education, 41, 437–439.10.3928/0148-4834-20021001-05Search in Google Scholar PubMed
STATE Action Coalition. (2012). The future of nursing, leading change, advancing health. Retrieved from [blinded, complete address to be included later]Search in Google Scholar
Tanner, C. (2002). Clinical education: Circa 2010. Journal of Nursing Education, 41, 51–52.10.3928/0148-4834-20020201-03Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Williams, K., Cobb, A. K., Nowak, J., Domian, E. W., Hicks, V., & Starling, C. (2002). Faculty-agency partnering forimproved client outcomes. Journal of Nursing Education, 41, 531–534.10.3928/0148-4834-20021201-06Search in Google Scholar PubMed
W.K. Kellogg Foundation. (2004). W.K. Kellogg Foundation logic model development guide. Retrieved from http://www.wkkf.orgSearch in Google Scholar
©2014 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Telehealth: Preparing Advanced Practice Nurses to Address Healthcare Needs in Rural and Underserved Populations
- Beyond Survival: Fostering Growth and Innovation in Doctoral Study – A Concept Analysis of the Ba Space
- A Faculty Created Strategic Plan for Excellence in Nursing Education
- Co-supervision of Doctoral Students: Enhancing the Learning Experience
- Effectiveness of a Poverty Simulation in Second Life®: Changing Nursing Student Attitudes toward Poor People
- Evaluating Preceptor Perception of Support Using Educational Podcasts
- An Evaluation of Mental Health Simulation with Standardized Patients
- Bologna Process, More or Less: Nursing Education in the European Economic Area: A Discussion Paper
- Motivation and International Clinical Placements: Shifting Nursing Students to a Global Citizenship Perspective
- Pre-Course Simulation as a Predictor of Satisfaction with an Emergency Nursing Clinical Course
- Teacher Stories of Blame When Assigning a Failing Grade
- Empowerment and Mentoring in Nursing Academia
- Development, Implementation and Evaluation of a Peer Review of Teaching (PRoT) Initiative in Nursing Education
- A Guest in the House: Nursing Instructors’ Experiences of the Moral Distress Felt by Students during Inpatient Psychiatric Clinical Rotations
- Developing Students’ Qualitative Muscles in an Introductory Methods Course
- Enhancing Quantity and Quality of Clinical Experiences in a Baccalaureate Nursing Program
- Effects of Incivility in Clinical Practice Settings on Nursing Student Burnout
- Approaches to Study in Undergraduate Nursing Students in Regional Victoria, Australia
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Telehealth: Preparing Advanced Practice Nurses to Address Healthcare Needs in Rural and Underserved Populations
- Beyond Survival: Fostering Growth and Innovation in Doctoral Study – A Concept Analysis of the Ba Space
- A Faculty Created Strategic Plan for Excellence in Nursing Education
- Co-supervision of Doctoral Students: Enhancing the Learning Experience
- Effectiveness of a Poverty Simulation in Second Life®: Changing Nursing Student Attitudes toward Poor People
- Evaluating Preceptor Perception of Support Using Educational Podcasts
- An Evaluation of Mental Health Simulation with Standardized Patients
- Bologna Process, More or Less: Nursing Education in the European Economic Area: A Discussion Paper
- Motivation and International Clinical Placements: Shifting Nursing Students to a Global Citizenship Perspective
- Pre-Course Simulation as a Predictor of Satisfaction with an Emergency Nursing Clinical Course
- Teacher Stories of Blame When Assigning a Failing Grade
- Empowerment and Mentoring in Nursing Academia
- Development, Implementation and Evaluation of a Peer Review of Teaching (PRoT) Initiative in Nursing Education
- A Guest in the House: Nursing Instructors’ Experiences of the Moral Distress Felt by Students during Inpatient Psychiatric Clinical Rotations
- Developing Students’ Qualitative Muscles in an Introductory Methods Course
- Enhancing Quantity and Quality of Clinical Experiences in a Baccalaureate Nursing Program
- Effects of Incivility in Clinical Practice Settings on Nursing Student Burnout
- Approaches to Study in Undergraduate Nursing Students in Regional Victoria, Australia