title: Clinical imprinting: the impact of early clinical learning on career long professional development in nursing.
abstract: The literature recognises a relationship between clinical experience and a successful undergraduate experience in nursing; however what constitutes an effective approach remains the subject of debate, particularly in relation to first year of learning. There is evidence from a biological standpoint that early experience impacts on the behavioural development of animals, described by Konrad Lorenz (1903-1989) as 'imprinting'. The concept of imprinting has resonance for nursing. In this article the importance of 'getting it right at the beginning' is explored and what, if anything, Lorenz's theory tells us about the impact of early clinical learning on subsequent professional development.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 OBA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: n.andrew@gcu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andrew
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D002322:Career Mobility; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007173:Imprinting, Psychological; D007858:Learning; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors