title: Time, fear and transformation: Student nurses' experiences of doing a practicum (quality improvement project) in practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improving and sustaining quality in healthcare continues to be a global challenge, resulting in the necessity of developing quality improvement (QI) skills and knowledge to use in practice. This paper reports student nurses' experiences of conducting a quality improvement project (Practicum) as a compulsory assessment whilst on clinical placement areas across Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone and face-to-face interviews (n = 18) were conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule. Discussions were transcribed verbatim and data were analysed thematically. Data were extracted from Practicum assignments (n = 50).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three key themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Time; students highlighted the necessity of time in practice areas to acclimatise, socialise and conduct the Practicum. Timing of the Practicum within the curriculum was also important. 2) Fear; was experienced by many students at the perceived enormity of the assignment, the bravery needed to attempt to change practice and the adjustment to a unique type of assignment. 3) Transformation; students shared their shifted perceptions on completing a Practicum, including a sense of achievement and acknowledgement of key improvement skills for the future.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Student nurses need to be stretched beyond their comfort zones to rise to the challenge of the Practicum, whilst ensuring adequate support mechanisms are in place from a range of sources.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Stirling (Highland Campus), Centre for Health Science, Old Perth Road, Inverness, IV2 3JH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: b.l.a.james@stir.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Stirling (Highland Campus), Centre for Health Science, Old Perth Road, Inverness, IV2 3JH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012606:Scotland; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Change; Clinical placement; Curriculum; Practice learning; Qualitative interviews; Quality improvement; Thematic analysis