EPortfolio for students: A paper exercise or the product of effective partnership working?

Abstract

This article outlines the process of enabling students to evidence lifelong reflective learning from the outset of their professional career in the nursing profession. It discusses the importance of a positive partnership approach between a higher education institution, a health board (where student nurses undertake clinical placements) and NHS Education for Scotland. The process of implementing the Career Long ePortfolio is outlined, as is how this has been embedded within the pre-registration mental health nursing programme. Developing students as reflective practitioners and moving forward through the use of technology allows the student to develop their ePortfolio that other people can also contribute to. The ePortfolio enables students to request feedback from mentors and lecturers, whose entries will build on the evidence students have as reflective practitioners. This article discusses an aspect of how we can ‘future proof’ reflective practice evidence with the introduction of revalidation.