'Can you take a student this morning?' Maximising effective teaching by practice nurses

Smith, P., Cotton, P. and O'Neill, A. (2009) 'Can you take a student this morning?' Maximising effective teaching by practice nurses. Medical Education, 43(5), pp. 426-433. (doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03308.x)

Abstract

<p><b>Objectives:</b> Little is known about the contribution that nurses make to medical student learning. This study set out to explore the nature of practice nurse teaching during the general practice clerkship and to explore ways in which the teacher and learner (the practice nurse and the medical student) can be best supported to maximise learning.</p> <p><b>Method:</b> Mixed focus groups were conducted with general practitioner educational supervisors and practice nurses. Further focus groups were conducted with students on completing a clerkship.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> There is wide variation in the delivery, organisation and expectations of practice nurse teaching. While there is some evidence of a passive learning experience the learning dynamic and the student-nurse relationships are regarded highly.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Time spent with practice nurses is an important part of the clerkship in general practice. The nature of the practice nurse-medical student relationship is different to the educational supervisor-medical student relationship and can be built upon to maximise learning during the clerkship. The experience for the practice nurse, the medical student, and the supervisor can be enhanced through formal preparation for delivering teaching</p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com
• Keywords: Primary care, medical student teaching, practice nurses
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cotton, Prof Phil and Smith, Dr Patricia and O'Neill, Dr Anna
• Authors: Smith, P., Cotton, P., and O'Neill, A.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RT Nursing; R Medicine > R Medicine (General); L Education > L Education (General)
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Nursing and Health Care
• Journal Name: Medical Education
• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
• ISSN: 0308-0110
• ISSN (Online): 1365-2923
• Published Online: 20 April 2009
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2010 Blackwell Publishing
• First Published: First published in Medical Education 43(5):426-433
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.