title: Linking theory to practice in introductory practice learning experiences.
abstract: Nurse educators internationally are challenged with finding a sufficient number of suitable practice learning experiences for student nurses. This paper reports on a study which aimed to evaluate the utilisation of specialised and highly technical environments ("new" environments) as first practice learning experiences for adult nursing students in the UK. A survey was conducted on 158 first year student nurses who were allocated to either "new" or "old" (those that have been traditionally used) environments. Data analysis was conducted using Mann-Whitney U test and exploratory factor analysis was performed. Results have demonstrated that all environments afford novice nurses the opportunity to observe or practice the essential skills of nursing. In addition, the "new" environments have revealed greater opportunity to observe and practice aspects of practice related to governance of care. This paper concludes that a nursing curriculum which makes clear association between the essential nature of nursing and practice based learning outcomes will help the student to appreciate contemporary nursing practice and to link nursing theory with practice. Further research is required to explain the observation that aspects of practice related to governance are more visible within highly technical areas of practice.
authors.affiliation: University of the West of Scotland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: diane.fotheringham@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fotheringham
authors.affiliation: University of the West of Scotland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: David.Lamont@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.affiliation: University of the West of Scotland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: tamsin.macbride@uws.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tamsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Macbride
authors.affiliation: University of the West of Scotland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: laura.mackenzie@uws.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacKenzie
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009742:Nursing Theory; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Learning environment; Practice placements; Survey research; Theory-practice relationship