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Learning Objective 1: The learner will describe the benefits of the Dedicated Education Unit innovative clinical education in maternal-newborn nursing.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will explore the potential to increase maternal-newborn safety through the role socialization of the undergraduate nurse.
A maternal-newborn dedicated education unit (DEU) minimized student downtime and allows for maximal learning and “hands on” experience. Moreover, the DEU socializes the student into the role of the clinically component nurse. Strengthening the overall competence of future nurses will increase safety of maternal-newborn nursing in the future.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project was to describe the student satisfaction with the DEU experience for Maternal-Newborn clinical rotation and their theoretical knowledge of maternal-newborn care.
Methods and Measures:
After receiving IRB approval, 48 nursing students enrolled in junior level nursing course participated in the DEU in the fall semester of 2009 and 2010. The surveys consist of a Likert Scale and written comments. The satisfaction survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Debriefing sessions of both student and clinical preceptors were completed after every clinical session.
In order to determine the educational benefit of the DEU experience, the second part of this study will examine the DEU students’ performance on the maternal-newborn final exam in comparison to the traditional clinical students. In an anonymous, group-aggregate fashion, the researcher will statistically compare the DEU versus the traditional students in the following categories: GPA and maternal-newborn questions on the course final exam.
Evaluation Results:
Preliminary results show that the students overwhelming preferred the DEU experience in their maternal-newborn clinical as well as the DEU having a benefit to the dyadic component of maternal-newborn nursing.
Discussion:
This pilot study will assist the researcher to determine the benefit of the DEU program, evaluate the effectiveness of this innovative and new approach to clinical nursing education, and determine if a more comprehensive prospective study is necessary and feasible. As maternal-newborn nursing relies strongly on communication and education of patients, the role socialization of the undergraduate nursing student is vitally important.
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