Needing to Belong: First Practice Placement Experiences of Children’s Nursing Students

This study examines first year children’s nursing students’ anxieties before their first practice placement and their support needs during that time. Strategies to address needs are highlighted. A questionnaire was completed by children’s nursing students (n = 21) before their initial practice placement to establish their expectations and concerns. A subgroup (n = 5) took part in a focus group following placement to establish consensus around the support that helped and what could help future students prepare for first placement. The resultant data indicated the importance of students having a sense of belonging to their practice placement, trusting website information, induction days, and the involvement of a more senior student in their preparation, in addition to facilitative mentors. Using similar methodology to that used with students, a subgroup of professional staff took part in two focus groups (FG1 n = 5, FG2 n = 4) to establish consensus around support initiatives using areas identified by students as priorities that could better facilitate this initial practice placement. Although commonalities existed within both students and professionals, some differences were highlighted. A student’s first practice placement is of utmost importance in affirming their choice to study nursing. Academic and clinical staff play a crucial part in this decision-making.