University-funded project on student nurses’ placement experiences in Gibraltar presented at an international conference

The study, highlights how mentors play a vital role in Gibraltar, supporting and assessing student learning. Students are not just passive recipients of knowledge; rather, they take on a proactive approach to find the best way to learn in practice. While extensive research has explored different aspects of experiential learning in UK nursing, the voices and perspectives of student nurses in Gibraltar, and how they learn during placements, have remained largely absent from the literature.

Dr Lawson’s recent study explores how student nurses in Gibraltar learn during clinical placements. The study employed an inductive qualitative approach, using thematic analysis to analyse data collected from semi-structured interviews. Three key themes emerged: learning through real-life practice, using heuristics in clinical decision-making and the mentor–student–patient relationship.

The study sheds light on the meaningful ways students experience and navigate nursing practice. It is anticipated that the findings if this study will trigger further interest in the diverse ways that students learn on placement, how learning can be better facilitated for students on placement and provide impetus for future research around practice-based learning in healthcare.

Dr Lawson hopes to soon publish the results of her research in an international peer-reviewed journal which will make her findings accessible to a wider audience.