Building Connections in Aged Care: Developing Support Structures for Student Nurses on Placement in Residential Care: Report on Stage One, TSoN Aged Care Report No.2

Abstract

The report addresses the findings of Stage one of the Building Connections in Aged Care project. In Stage one the primary intent was to scope the issues, which impact on teaching and learning and the capacity of the involved Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) to support an educative agenda. Because the researchers had an ongoing and intense involvement with both the second year nursing students (N=20) participating 3 week clinical placements in six RACFs and nurses who worked with them as preceptors, many issues were revealed in the research discussions. Furthermore, the collaborative interactive methodology used to facilitate the project, supported the participants sense of ownership and their desire to flesh out and address the issues raised. Consequently, the findings presented in this report provide a unique insight into the operation of residential care facilities not previously documented in the literature, not least a lack of capacity within RACFs to effectively support students on placement.