Professional Experience Placement

The findings of  the article High fidelity silicone simulation: A qualitative evaluation of nursing students’ experiences (2012) discusses how role play simulation activities can prepare novice pracitioners for professional experience placement. From the focus groups held, the authors found three main themes that have implications for professional experience facilitation. These themes were preparation for clinical reality, reducing fear/increasing confidence and taking out of comfort zone. Reid-Searl, Happel, Vieth and Eaton (2012) discuss the positive experience of this simulation experience as educational preparation in a safe environment. The respondents indicated they found the experience was beneficial in reducing ‘crippling under-confidence’ and being freed from concerns about doing harm to the patient. This exploratory research suggests there is a place for this type of simulation to enable students to become more comfortable with the workplace setting prior to embarking on professional experience placement.

The literature indicates that professional experience placement can cause student  anxiety and apprehension because they are concerned with health care delivery issues and whether they will be accepted and supervised by the nurses they work with (Levett-Jones, Fahy, Parsons and Mitchell 2006) . It is the role of the professional experience facilitator to guide and support students in linking theortetical knowledge and practice skills they have learned in the laboratory setting.  They also assist students to become socialised into the profession of nursing. Part of this role includes assisting students to navigate their way through the initial ‘shock’ of the professional placement environment.  Being aware of, or acknowledging  student anxieties, fears or lack of confidence  can assist student’s in finding their way on placement. What strategies do you use to assist students to develop while on professional experience placement? Share your ideas in the comment box below or email Carey.Mather@utas.edu.au and I can post them for you.