AUDITING A CLINICAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENT NURSES

Ms. Carmen Camilleri (Cutajar)
Institute of Health Care
University of Malta

ABSTRACT

The aim of this project is to formulate an audit of the learning environment for student nurses.

This project was conducted in a surgical paediatric ward. The sample consisted of three student nurses, three qualified staff nurses.

A critical literature review of a learning environment for student nurses and the audit process was carried out. This lead to the development of a standard tool for practice placements and quality of the learning environment. Six participants were given a questionnaire. These were three student nurses and three qualified staff nurses. Data was later  analysed and discussed.

The findings were discussed under the following headings:

The recommendations that emerged include
1. better development of the curriculum and continued programmes of education,
2. attention to be directed to the support of student nurses by means of a supervisor/facilitator, including other attitudes as regarding communication, teamwork, and morale of the staff,
3. resources that are needed for a learning environment as an area where student nurses could reflect on their practices and discuss them with their supervisor/facilitator, together with learning packages.

However, this project has its limitations as it was done as an academic study and not as an audit per se.