title: Collaborative learning in gerontological clinical settings: The students' perspective.
abstract: This study deals with student nurses' experiences of collaborative learning in gerontological clinical settings where aged people are involved as age-experts in students' learning processes. The data were collected in 2012 using the contents of students' reflective writing assignments concerning elderly persons' life history interviews and the students' own assessments of their learning experiences in authentic elder care settings. The results, analyzed using qualitative content analysis, revealed mostly positive learning experiences. Interaction and collaborative learning activities in genuine gerontological clinical settings contributed to the students' understanding of the multiple age-related and disease-specific challenges as well as the issues of functional decline that aged patients face. Three types of factors influenced the students' collaborative learning experiences in gerontological clinical settings: student-related, patient-related and learning environment-related factors. According to the results, theoretical studies in combination with collaboration, in an authentic clinical environment, by student nurses, elderly patients, representatives of the elder care staff and nurse educators provide a feasible method for helping students transform their experiences with patients into actual skills. Their awareness of and sensitivity to the needs of the elderly increase as they learn.
authors.affiliation: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Kyläsaarenkuja 2, FI-00580 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: arja.suikkala@diak.fi.
authors.forename: Arja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suikkala
authors.affiliation: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Kyläsaarenkuja 2, FI-00580 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: eeva.kivela@diak.fi.
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kivelä
authors.affiliation: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Kyläsaarenkuja 2, FI-00580 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Käyhkö
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Collaboration; Elderly; Nursing students; Patient participation