Effective academic-practice partnership models in nursing students' clinical placement: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Objectives: This systematic review examines the effectiveness of academic-practice partnership models which include clinical faculty and clinical mentor roles in improving nursing students' clinical learning when compared with traditional models.

Review methods: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library were searched to locate Randomized Control Trials and quasi-experimental studies published from 1999 to 2020. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools were used to ensure methodological quality.

Results: Fourteen studies were included in the review. The Collaborative Teaching Model and the Dedicated Education Unit model were tested in randomized controlled trials. Dedicated Education Unit, Dedicated Education Centre, Clinical Education Units, Education Partnership model, Collaborative educational-practice model and Collaborative clinical practicum model were evaluated in four experimental studies and ten quasi-experimental studies. Studies did not include patient participation, and staff and faculty had anecdotal presence.

Conclusion: There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of academic-practice partnership models. However, the complementary roles of clinical faculty and clinical mentor, in addition to education and health institutions managers commitment could successfully facilitate students' clinical learning.

Keywords: Nursing; Nursing education research; Practice organization & administration; Program evaluation; Students.