The difference in learning culture and learning performance between a traditional clinical placement, a dedicated education unit and work-based learning

Abstract

BackgroundAn experiment was carried out on the bachelor’s degree course in nursing with two new clinical placement concepts: workplace learning and the dedicated education centre. The aim was to establish a learning culture that creates a sufficiently high learning performance for students. ObjectivesThe objectives of this study are threefold: (1) to look for a difference in the “learning culture” and “learning performance” in traditional clinical placement departments and the new clinical placement concepts, the “dedicated education centre” and “workplace learning”; (2) to assess factors influencing the learning culture and learning performance; and (3) to investigate whether there is a link between the learning culture and the learning performance. MethodA non-randomised control study was carried out. The experimental group consisted of 33 final-year nursing undergraduates who were following clinical placements at dedicated education centres and 70 nursing undergraduates who undertook workplace learning. The control group consisted of 106 students who followed a traditional clinical placement. The “learning culture” outcome was measured using the Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher scale. The “learning performance” outcome consisting of three competencies was measured using the Nursing Competence Questionnaire. ResultsThe traditional clinical placement concept achieved the highest score for learning culture (p<0.001). The new concepts scored higher for learning performance of which the dedicated education centres achieved the highest scores. The 3 clinical placement concepts showed marked differences in learning performance for the “assessment” competency (p<0.05) and for the “interventions” competency (p<0.05). ConclusionsTraditional clinical placement, a dedicated education centre and workplace learning can be seen as complementary clinical placement concepts. The organisation of clinical placements under the dedicated education centre concept and workplace learning is recommended for final-year undergraduate nursing students.