title: Field visit placements: An integrated and community approach to learning in children's nursing.
abstract: This paper reports on the development of a new initiative, field visit placements towards and integrated and community approach to learning for nursing students. To date, limited literature exists on the potential of community field visits as meaningful learning opportunities for nursing students. Drawing on our experiences, the structure and processes involved in implementing field visits are described in this paper. Students evaluated the field visits positively indicating that they provided a wealth of learning opportunities that enhanced their knowledge and awareness of services available to children and their families in the community. The potential of field visits to promote an integrated and community approach to placements in children's nursing is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland. a.cummins@ucc.ie
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCloskey
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: Bebhinn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Whooley
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D017145:Models, Educational; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires