Supporting allied health students on clinical placements to begin to think, feel and act as a health professional – a health librarian’s contribution

Abstract

Clinical placements provide student health professionals with critical and diverse learning opportunities. Engaging in clinical work and learning from role models and peers in the workplace are primary ways allied health students develop professional skills, behaviour and identities as a health professional. Whilst on placement students also have opportunities to become part of the workplace practice community. This study arose not as the result of a need to solve a problem, but from my curiosity and desire to continuously improve clinical placement learning experiences for allied health students. In my study, I explored the influences supporting allied health students undertaking clinical placements in a Queensland regional health service tothink, feel and act like health professionals.