Abstract
BACKGROUND: A nursing student's first placement is a significant and influential experience that can be a factor in attrition from nursing education programs.
METHOD: The first placement experiences of 17 nursing students at a Scottish university were collected through semistructured individual interviews or focus groups. The resultant transcripts were analyzed from the perspective of communities of practice using deductive content analysis.
RESULTS: Students' peripheral position within the communities of practice they encounter on placement can support learning. However, it can also leave them at risk of marginalization, which may have a detrimental effect on their emerging identity as nursing students. The central roles of mentors and liaison lecturers in supporting student participation within the community of practice are apparent.
CONCLUSION: Student experiences of peripherality and marginality highlight opportunities for practice settings and universities to better prepare and support students during their first placement. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(1):31–38.]
METHOD: The first placement experiences of 17 nursing students at a Scottish university were collected through semistructured individual interviews or focus groups. The resultant transcripts were analyzed from the perspective of communities of practice using deductive content analysis.
RESULTS: Students' peripheral position within the communities of practice they encounter on placement can support learning. However, it can also leave them at risk of marginalization, which may have a detrimental effect on their emerging identity as nursing students. The central roles of mentors and liaison lecturers in supporting student participation within the community of practice are apparent.
CONCLUSION: Student experiences of peripherality and marginality highlight opportunities for practice settings and universities to better prepare and support students during their first placement. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(1):31–38.]
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 31-38 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Nursing Education |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 19 Dec 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2017 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- nursing students
- work placement
- community of practice
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- General Nursing