Professional Experience Placement

White (2010) examines the changes within the nursing curriculum from the apprenticeship model to higher education and the potential impact resulting from a reduction in clinical learning hours. This paper synthesizes information about professional development and situated learning from Spouse, Lave and Wenger that have recently been blogged about here, and communities of practice that were explored at the inception of this blog and are its main purpose.

These authors indicate that learning nursing professionalism is a socio-cultural activity that facilitates understanding and learning that takes place within a framework of social participation. Additionally, groups of people who have an identity defined by a shared domain of interest, also known as a community of practice who are defined by knowledge, not task can enable others through legitimate peripheral participation (blogs in November 2013) to learn about nursing professionalism in context.

White (2000) concludes by acknowledging the nexus between theoretical and practice components of nursing. White (2000) States that it is essential that students are adequately prepared for the clinical practice environment and that learning in clinical settings is fundamental to professional development as a nurse.

If you have comments about the socio-cultural approach to learning you are welcome to post them here.