| Learning Objective #1: Describe the present academic and agency issues in clinical nursing education which led to the partnership for the development of the Australian model of designated education units | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Describe the components and potential outcomes of a Designated Education Unit |
Background: Dissatisfaction by clinical nurses, academia, and management lead to discussions for a different approach to education. The concept of the Designated Education Units (DEU) was developed from Flinders University of South Australia (Edgecombe, Wotten, Gonda, and Mason, 1999). This abstract highlights initial outcomes from a northwest baccalaureate school's collaborative project with two Medical-Surgical sites after one semester. Junior/Senior students plus RNs gave anonymous written feedback collected at the end of previous clinicals about students' experiences and RN-student mentorship. Future plans call for empirical research to measure student, staff, administration, and patient outcomes.
Significance to nursing education: Feedback indicated a more meaningful and varied experience in a stable supportive environment. Since the Medical-Surgical clinicals will be repeated on similar units under one management, students will not loose a clinical day for orientation. Anecdotal feedback hints of more rapid progression in learning skills, critical thinking, time management, and leadership capabilities
Significance to nursing practice: The staff developed better expertise in educating students, which has potential for greater job satisfaction. Other long-term outcomes for patient safety and satisfaction should be measured in the future. Students facilitated lower staffing ratios. Recent research indicates evidence of high patient-to-nurse ratios increases surgical patients' mortality along with burnout and job dissatisfaction (Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, Sochalski, and Silber, 2002).
Significance to nursing administration: Administration also achieved the benefits of academic, community, and service partnerships. Students will assess organizational culture over several semesters, which reduces culture shock upon graduation. The DEUs provided the student and organization opportunities to evaluate the potential fit for a nursing staff position. Then $80,000 orientation costs/nurse are reduced while improving patient outcomes. Finally, students were informed of the visions and values of leadership so they could role model these attibutes.
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