| Summary: | Healthcare restructuring and projected workforce shortages have resulted in the expansion of nursing programs and subsequent increase in student enrolment. Increased enrolment has led to competition for student practice education experiences adding pressures on academic institutions to find and coordinate practice education and resulting in pressures on healthcare agencies to provide these experiences. Placing student in the appropriate clinical setting at the appropriate time in their education is a complex and challenging process.
In British Columbia, nursing schools and healthcare agencies have used a Web-based tool, Health Services Placement network (HSPnet), to communicate about and track nursing student placements since 2003. The purpose of this retrospective longitudinal study was to examine nursing student clinical placement hours over six academic years, 2005-2006 (2005/06) and 2010-2011 (2010/11) (from August 15, 2005 to August 14, 2011) within a large health authority in British Columbia. Data were examined for differences across years, between nursing programs (BSN, LPN, RPN, international RN), between types of placements (group or preceptorship), and between types of clinical settings.
In conclusion, the health authority hosted a large number of student clinical practice hours with significant growth over time. Future research should explore methods to support student clinical placements in diverse practice settings, methods to enhance academic and practice partnerships, and methods to enhance learning environments that will be beneficial to both staff and students.
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