Enhancing student nurses’ experience through cardiac research placements

Abstract

Introduction: The importance of clinical research and evidence-based practice is well known, yet there is anecdotal evidence that clinical research is poorly perceived. A cardiovascular research placement for pre-registration student nurses was piloted to provide students with access to this important area of cutting edge clinical practice. Methods: University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust's standardised placement feedback forms were audited for service evaluation, judging responses against the placement aims and NMC domains. A web-based survey was disseminated to all pre-registration student nurses in De Montfort University, Leicester, to support the pilot programme. Results: The research placement scheme has achieved its aims, with glowing endorsement from students, research staff, CCU staff and the PLLs. The students benefitted from exposure to the wide and varied world of cardiac research, gaining first-hand experience of the contribution clinical research plays in providing the evidence base for practice. Discussion: The data shows that there is a perceived value to students completing a clinical research placement. The suggestions from the feedback have recommended more coherent working between De Montfort University and UHL for the research education and exposure to clinical research throughout their degree programme.