An approach to building student exposure to primary care settings so that students can exit pre-registration programmes ready for a first role in primary care

Institution:
Location:
Profession:

When did you first introduce the innovation?

Between 12 and 24 months ago

Please describe the innovation you have developed

We have developed an integrated undergraduate Masters in Nursing as a route within our BSc (Hons) Nursing. The four year programme has been developed in close collaboration with our local service commissioners, to reflect the national change in primary healthcare delivery and leads to a Masters in Nursing and first level registration as a nurse (Adult or Mental Health).

What prompted you to develop this innovation?

The innovation speaks to the major shift in healthcare required locally and nationally from acute care to primary care. The focus of the programme is to prepare students to work collaboratively across health and social care settings with a focus on and greater exposure to primary care in particular. In preparation for this, students study medicines management, changing health related behaviours and person-centered consultation skills.

In your view, what is it about this innovation that makes it different/important?

It prepares students to exit an undergraduate nursing programme ready to move into a first job in primary care. Students undertake a professional internship in year 4. The aim of the internship is to enable students to fully engage and embed within the culture of the healthcare organisation during an extended placement. Nursing interns are situated in primary care practice teams or acute clinical services making a transition to the community. Students are involved in studying service transition and service improvement projects during the internship.

To what extent does your innovation make use of existing approaches, resources or technologies?

It builds on existing resources but gives student nurses in year 4 meaningful exposure to primary care settings as well as exposure to service transition and change management/service improvement

To what degree has this innovation led to changes in education or clinical practice?

Yet to be evaluated as first cohort are about to complete.

What evidence do you have of the impact of the innovation?

Yet to be evaluated.

To what degree has the innovation been disseminated in your organisation or elsewhere?

Disseminated widely across practice placement environment.

Marketed widely in local primary care areas.

Please provide details of any plans you have to disseminate the innovation in the future.

Plan yet to be developed.