Nursing Education: Technology-supported guidance to increase flexibility, quality and efficiency in clinical practicum

About the project

The demand for nurses in Norway is increasing. Actions that promote the completion of the nursing degree at a stipulated time are of great importance for the number of nurses to graduate, which in turn affects the health care and economy of society. Fifty percent of the bachelor's degree programme in nursing consists of practical study conducted in a model involving three parties: teacher, student and clinical supervisor. The clinical supervisor is responsible for follow-up, support and assessment of the students during their clinical practicum. The teacher is an educational mediator who assures, by cooperation across geographical locations, that the clinical practicum is performed in such a manner that it provides the nursing student with an optimal learning experience according to the curriculum.

 

Characteristics of the traditional model:

• Limited contact between the nursing student, the teacher and the clinical supervisor
• Variation in the clinical supervisors’ level of competence and supervisor style can directly affect the students’ learning outcomes
• Lack of local clinical practicum placements limits educational capacity

 

Purpose of the project

The purpose of the project is to develop, test and implement a new guidance model supported by technology to:

• Strengthen the nursing students’ learning outcomes in clinical practicum
• Strengthen communication and collaboration between students, teachers and clinical supervisors
• Contribute to student satisfaction with clinical practicum
• Investigate whether, and in the case of, how a new guidance model affects the quality of students’, clinical supervisors’, and teachers’ work
• Streamline and increase continuity and flexibility in clinical practicum by enabling a digital follow-up and assessment of students, regardless of geographical location

 

The guidance model consists of three main elements:

• A mobile/tablet application allowing students to report their own progress and receive tailored feedback from the clinical supervisor and teacher.
• Virtual group meetings making it possible to have several meetings that ensure interaction, dialogue and reflection, regardless of location. Virtual meetings with speech, text and file sharing enabling continuous collaboration between the student, clinical supervisor and teacher in real time.
• Digital assessments of learning outcome achievement and learning situations.

 

The project is funded by the Directorate for Internationalization and Quality Development in Higher Education (Diku) and LDUC. The project is divided into three phases and is planned to be implemented within three years.

The development phase is carried out in collaboration with the users

The test phase is conducting a pilot study in primary and specialist health care

The effect phase is conducting a randomized controlled trial

 

With a positive effect, the new guidance model will be implemented first at the Department for Undergraduate Studies, and then at the Department for Postgraduate Studies at LDUC.

 

 

Project Dissemination

Poster – 150 years Anniversary conference, Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, November 22nd 2018

 

Project Results