Objective
This scoping review aims to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to undergraduate nursing student clinical placement models and their characteristics, focusing on outcome measures of cost-effectiveness, clinical competence, and work readiness.
Introduction
Clinical placement provides the milieu for students to apply theoretical learning in structured and supported clinical environments. It provides opportunities for students to integrate and reflect on their learning and to be provided with timely feedback on their performance. Clinical placement is typified by two approaches, the clinical placement approach, and the clinical learning approach. Clinical practice is an integral component of undergraduate Registered Nurse education. However, there is limited evidence about the cost-effectiveness in preparing clinically competent, work-ready graduates despite several variations of clinical placement models reported.
Inclusion criteria
This scoping review will include publications about the characteristics of clinical placement models used for undergraduate nursing students, their clinical supervisors and higher education, and the outcome measures of cost-effectiveness, clinical competence, and work readiness. Publications that discuss placement models within hospital or community contexts in any geographical location where undergraduate nursing students learn to practice will be included.
Methods
A search of online databases will identify English-only publications for inclusion between January 2002 and March 2022, including primary research, literature reviews, methodological papers, academic publications, and conference papers / abstracts, nonpeer-reviewed publications; books or book chapters, editorials, white papers, government and statutory reports, policies and guidelines, theses, and opinion pieces that meet the review objectives. Reference lists will be hand searched, and relevant publications included. The review is using JBI scoping review methodology. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping review (PRISMA-ScR) flow diagram will present the study selection and data extraction. This review will comply with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Results will be reported diagrammatically or in tabular form accompanied by a narrative summary.