The student experience of undergraduate education: the relationship between academic and clinical learning environments

The paper considers the implications of student experience in relation to the proposed changes in nurse education, and recognises the need to consider the situation of those who have graduated from nursing degree programmes.

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of the authors as undergraduate nursing students (one from a university background, the other from a polytechnic). The paper particularly focuses upon an examination of the relationship between the academic and clinical learning environments. The authors attempt to explain aspects of this relationship from their own personal interpretations. They consider the discrepancies they have experienced between the two settings, in relation to both general philosophies of nursing and issues relating to actual nursing intervention. Reasons why the discrepancies exist are considered along with the ways students cope with the situation. Finally the paper considers the implications of student experience in relation to the proposed changes in nurse education, and recognises the need to consider the situation of those who have graduated from nursing degree programmes.