Professional Experience Placement

A paper by Lea et al (2015) presents the findings from a project investigating which aspects of student nurses’ experiences of residential aged care facility (RACF) clinical placements affect the perceived likelihood of choosing RACF after graduation.  The impetus for the study was the increasing demand for aged care services and issues of recruitment and retention of nursing staff to RACFs. The study formed part of the Teaching in Aged Care facilities in Australia project using an action research model. Data was collected through feedback meetings held with mentors and students from two aged care facilities within Tasmania. Upskilling and learning and teaching with Agency staff was undertaken prior to student arrival. Students visited the facilities before they began placement and were supported in practice by mentors during placement. Finding indicated that satisfaction with support from care workers was moderately associated with the likelihood of working in a RACF after graduation. The learning and teaching score also indicated that supportiveness was associated with likelihood of working at a RACF after graduation. The authors discussed the importance of these findings and indicated the need for educational preparation of staff at RACFs being essential for supporting students in having a high quality clinical experience. Building capacity of mentors was effective in supporting students and demonstrated mentorship was important for influencing students’ career decision-making. The authors point out that care workers comprise two-thirds of the aged care workforce are a resource that can be engaged to assist with recruitment and retention of nurses in this health care sector. Further information about how this project was conducted is described in this paper.

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