The evaluation of a successful collaborative education model to expand student clinical placements
- Authors: Barnett, Anthony , Cross, Dorothy , Shahwan-Akl, Lina , Jacob, Elisabeth
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nurse Education in Practice Vol. 10, no. 1 (2010), p. 17-21
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- Description: Worldwide, universities have been encouraged to increase the number of students enrolled in nursing courses as a way to bolster the domestic supply of graduates and address workforce shortages. This places pressure on clinical agencies to accommodate greater numbers of students for clinical experience who, in Australia, may often come from different educational institutions. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a collaborative model of clinical education that would increase the capacity of a health care agency to accommodate student placements and improve workplace readiness. The project was undertaken in a medium sized regional hospital in rural Australia where most nurses worked part time. Through an iterative process, a new supported preceptorship model was developed by academics from three institutions and staff from the hospital. Focus group discussions and interviews were conducted with key stakeholders and clinical placement data analysed for the years 2004 (baseline) to 2007. The model was associated with a 58% increase in the number of students and a 45% increase in the number of student placement weeks over the four year period. Students reported positively on their experience and key stakeholders believed that the new model would better prepare students for the realities of nursing work.
Scope of practice for Australian enrolled nurses: evolution and practice issues
- Authors: Jacob, Elisabeth , Barnett, Anthony , Sellick, Kenneth , McKenna, Lisa
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Contemporary Nurse Vol. 45, no. 2 (2013), p. 155-163
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Significant changes to the scope of practice for enrolled nurses have occurred in Australia over the past decade. These changes, which are largely a consequence of staff shortages and economic pressure, have resulted in increased role confusion and overlap between enrolled and registered nurses in Australia. This paper presents a brief history of the enrolled nurse in Australia followed by an overview of the current situation and emerging trends in the education and employment of these nurses. Definitions and approaches to scope of practice are described and emerging issues within Australia raised and discussed. A review of the literature found the number of enrolled nurses and the roles they perform have changed significantly in Australia following the introduction of the enhanced scope of practice. Further research is required to better define and delineate between the different nursing roles and to explore broader frameworks to analyze, describe and define these roles. Read More: http://pubs.e-contentmanagement.com/doi/abs/10.5172/conu.2013.45.2.155