An ‘Idea Whose Time Had Come’: The Flinders University School of Nursing Dedicated Education Unit—An Historical Perspective

Abstract

This chapter outlines the two-phase implementation of the original Dedicated Education Unit at Flinders University, South Australia, with a focus on the importance of partnerships and leadership. The author briefly recaps why a new clinical learning and teaching strategy was needed and the conceptualisation of the Dedicated Education Unit. She then describes the purpose of piloting the original Dedicated Education Unit (Phase 1), the ward environment for the pilot, the initial Dedicated Education Unit structure and process (including clinician and academic preparation and student recruitment and preparation), specific roles and responsibilities, lines of communication and resources. Her description of the implementation of Phase 2 includes discussion about the addition of new roles and University-based workshops in response to Phase 1evaluation. This chapter ends with a description of the post-pilot evaluation and further development of the Dedicated Education Unit, with a focus on curriculum development and changes to the culture in the Flinders University School of Nursing.