Abstract
BACKGROUND: Innovative models are required to maximize nursing student placements in environments of shrinking budgets, increasing hospital demands, and casualization and aging of the workforce. This article reports the success of a service-academic partnership in a dedicated education unit.
METHOD: This cross-sectional observational study in a regional hospital analyzed survey data using validated tools completed by buddy nurses (n = 80) and postplacement evaluation completed by students (n = 102) and the nurse leadership team (n = 17).
RESULTS: Postimplementation, nursing student placement days increased, and participants were positive about the partnership. Although most of the nursing students (n = 96) reported they were very or extremely satisfied with their placement, they rated student facilitators higher than their buddy nurses.
CONCLUSION: Increasing enrollments will not solve the nursing workforce shortage unless student placements of quality and quantity are provided. Partnership in support of clinical staff remains critical to create time to provide quality supervision.