A review of the evidence for the maximization of clinical placement opportunities through interprofessional collaboration

Abstract

Interprofessional collaboration has been suggested as a potential solution to clinical placement shortages. This review was designed to compile the evidence on the use of interprofessional and nursing intraprofessional collaboration to maximize clinical placement opportunities for undergraduate/pre-licensure health professional students. A worldwide search of the published and grey literature was conducted, supplemented by 28 interviews across Canada. Results revealed only two articles, both in nursing – one that described an intraprofessional nursing collaboration consisting of a clinical placement consortium for finding placements, and one that described a unique program that provided a seamless transition from a practice nurse program to associate degree nursing program and that included collaboration with clinical placements. The interviews revealed various types of collaborations designed to maximize placements and various mechanisms by which these collaborations served to maximize placements including easing the pressure to find preceptors and increasing the number of placements. The authors concluded that while collaborations exist specifically to maximize placements, at least in Canada, it was neither happening within the context of research nor being formally evaluated. More evaluation is needed in order to clarify the evidence by which collaboration works or does not work to maximize placement opportunities.

Keywords:

• Clinical practice
• clinical shortages
• maximizing placements
• interprofessional collaboration
• literature review

Acknowledgements

This study was made possible through the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) with funding by Health Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada, or the views and policies of CASN. We thank Linda Corso, RN, BScN, MA and Nancy Cobb, RN, BScN for their work on the literature review and feedback on an earlier draft of this paper.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Note

1. Licensed practical nurse is known as registered practical nurse (RPN) in the province of Ontario and as nursing assistants in the province of Quebec; LPN will be used in this paper for licensed and registered practical nurse and nursing assistant, and RPN will be used for registered psychiatric nurse.