Research from the University of Bedfordshire has revealed that the quality of the placement undertaken by nursing students has a direct impact on the areas where the nurses eventually choose to practice. Investment in ensuring a high quality placement could encourage the student to work in areas which have traditionally recruited poorly such as working within the community or with the elderly.

The Placement Impact, Experience & Destination (PIED) study surveyed third year nursing students from the University on how the quality of clinical placements has an influence on the decisions that nursing students make regarding their first staff post.

Dr Mark Wareing, Director of Practice Learning at the University who led the study said: “The influence of clinical placements of the choice of first destination of newly qualified nurses more than doubles within the first year of study.

“Clinical placements generate vivid experiences, which exert a strong influence on the first employment destination decisions of the student.”

Dr Wareing related the study back to his own experience of a clinical placement. “When you begin studying to become a nurse you often come with pre- conceived ideas of where you want to end up working. In my case I had watched a lot of Casualty and wanted to work in A&E.

“I then had my first placement working with the elderly which I loved, which completely changed my plans and that was where I ended up working when I qualified.”

The study found:

• Clinical placements in the final year of study have a particular influence on nursing students’ choice of clinical speciality
• Nursing students particularly value a working environment that is supportive of their development and where they feel they are making a difference to patients’ lives
• Investment in high-quality clinical placement experiences may encourage students to return as qualified nurses, which is particularly important for the less popular specialisms such as primary care and care of the older adult.

The University is now embarking on a larger collaborative longitudinal study with Canterbury Christchurch University.

Notes for editors

1. Impact of clinical placements on graduates’ choice of first staff-nurse post, Mark Wareing, Renate Taylor, Aileen Wilson and Adrienne Sharples. British Journal of Nursing, 2018, Vol 27, No 20.
2. The collaborative longitudinal study with Canterbury Christchurch commenced in September 2018 and will complete in 2021.