We do not set any specifications for who must do what in the organisation of learning experiences as this will vary depending on, amongst other things, the way in which a service is provided, and student learning needs and outcomes. Learning must happen in a way that preserves public safety, enables the student to meet their learning outcomes, and facilitates a fair and evidenced based assessment. There are many different ways of organising a learning experience and many different people can be part of a learning experience.
All nurses, midwives and nursing associates have a responsibility for supporting learning as set out in the Code:
The Code
Share your skills, knowledge and experience for the benefit of people receiving care and your colleagues
To achieve this, you must:
9.4 support students’ and colleagues’ learning to help them develop their professional competence and confidence
This can mean a number of different things, and may not always mean nurses, midwives or nursing associates acting as a ‘practice supervisor’.
Everyone within a learning environment could be part of student learning. Many different individuals, registered and not registered, including other students, have the capacity to be part of education and to contribute to student learning. The student should be empowered to seek out learning experiences from all those who can provide them, in line with the following standard:
Standards for student supervisions and assessment
Approved education institutions, together with practice learning partners, must ensure that:
1.8 students have opportunities to learn from a range of relevant people in practice learning environments, including service users, registered and non-registered individuals, and other students as appropriate
The AEI, with its practice learning partners, should ensure that learning environments and experiences enable this without compromising public safety.
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