title: Using a communication audit to improve communication on clinical placement in pre-registration nursing.
abstract: This article describes a novel communication audit conducted with those concerned with the practice placements of pre-registration Nursing students. The study, uniquely, addressed all who were involved in communication concerning placement in what is described as an organisational analysis. The aim of the audit was to identify levels of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with present communication processes and to identify points for improvement. The audit used the Hogard-Barker Communication Audit of Practice a customized version of a well established tool, devised to cover issues relevant to practice placements. A key feature of the tool is the opportunity for participants to identify the amount of communication they are receiving on particular topics and issues against the amount they would like to receive. Participants in the audit included students, assessor mentors, ward managers, clinical facilitators and link tutors. Overall there was considerable dissatisfaction with what was perceived to be the insufficient amount of communication received on a number of topics including allocations, the curriculum, students' learning outcomes and commitments in terms of college work. In addition to identifying points for improvement the audit provides a baseline against which progress can be assessed through a future audit.
authors.affiliation: Social and Health Evaluation Unit, School of Health and Social Care, University College Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester CH1 4BJ, UK. e.hogard@chester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hogard
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006747:Hospital Communication Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D006113:United Kingdom