A Dedicated Education Unit and a Novel Resident Nurse Transition-to-Practice Program in an Ambulatory Oncology Setting

Nursing Students' and Nurse Preceptors' Perspectives of an Ambulatory Dedicated Education Unit in Primary Care and General Internal Medicine

BACKGROUND

The sustainability of prelicensure nursing clinical learning models within ambulatory care is dependent on strong partnership and the availability of ambulatory nurse preceptors. Evaluation of preceptor and student satisfaction with ambulatory clinical experiences is necessary to identify program strengths and opportunities.

METHOD

Nursing students' and nurse preceptors' perceptions of an ambulatory dedicated education unit (DEU) in primary care and general internal medicine practices were measured from 2021 to 2023.

RESULTS

Students' survey responses indicated a high level of agreement for 20 (90.9%) of 22 items in 2021, 35 (100%) of 35 items in 2022, and 32 (91.4%) of 35 items in 2023. Preceptor responses demonstrated favorable agreement with all of the work-life satisfaction across the 3 years of the survey, with the exception of one question on the 2021 survey.

CONCLUSION

Nursing students and staff nurse preceptors found the ambulatory DEU teaching and learning experience to be positive and satisfying. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(3):171-177.].

The Ambulatory Dedicated Education Unit (DEU): An important example of academic practice partnership in ambulatory care

BACKGROUND

Academic Practice Partnerships (APPs) work synergistically to support mutual goals and educate the nursing workforce of the future. Enhanced recognition of the need for undergraduate nursing educational experiences in ambulatory care has increased the importance of Ambulatory APPs specifically. One mechanism for building Ambulatory APPs and shifting clinical education into multiple spheres of care is the Ambulatory Dedicated Education Unit (DEU).

METHODS

Partners at the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota developed an Ambulatory DEU in early 2019. Barriers to educating nursing students in the ambulatory setting were effectively mitigated through the design of the DEU and mutual efforts to sustain the Ambulatory APP through flexibility and adaptation.

RESULTS

The Ambulatory DEU clinical learning model is a strong example of an effective Ambulatory APP. The DEU was effective in overcoming eight common barriers to clinical learning in ambulatory settings and engaged 28 expert ambulatory registered nurses in the clinical teaching of between 25 and 32 senior Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students each year. Each student participating in the DEU experienced 90 h of ambulatory clinical learning. The Ambulatory DEU is in its fourth year and remains an effective mechanism for engaging nursing students in the competencies and complex care of ambulatory nursing.

CONCLUSION

Increasingly complex nursing care is being provided in ambulatory care settings. The DEU is an effective mechanism to prepare students in the ambulatory sphere of care and is a unique opportunity for ambulatory practice partners to learn and grow from participating in a partnered teaching environment.

Development and Implementation of an Oncology Clinical Research Nursing Residency Program for Newly Licensed Nurses

ABSTRACT

A paucity of nurses trained in clinical research prompted the development and implementation of a newly licensed nurse residency program in oncology research. The components of the program, funding, curriculum development, preceptor model, and partnerships, are described. Formal evaluation to quantify success in creating a pipeline for the future, increasing retention, and reducing costs is underway and will be reported in a future publication.

Theory-Informed Models: Application to Nursing Practice

The processes for review and confirmation of a theoretical model, its translation into current clinical practice, and the evaluation of outcomes will be presented. The authors' experience at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Washington illustrates the value and relevance of theoretical models in oncology care.