Introduction

At this year's RCN Congress in Liverpool, one of the education, learning, and development sessions brought together nurses, educators, and students to discuss the value of student nurse placements in diverse settings. The session highlighted how experiences in different clinical and community environments can enhance learning, support professional growth, and positively impact the wider health and social care system.

Why Diverse Placements Matter

Student nurse placements are essential learning experiences that lay the groundwork for future nursing practice. When students are placed in a range of environments, from acute hospital wards to community, general practice, mental health services, and social care settings, they gain a broader understanding of patient care, health inequalities, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The panel highlighted how these experiences help students:

• Develop adaptability and resilience
• Gain exposure to different patient populations and care models
• Build confidence in unfamiliar or challenging settings
• Understand the social determinants of health in real-world contexts

Benefits for students, educators and settings 

The discussion also emphasised that the benefits of diverse placements extend beyond the students themselves. Educators and nursing professionals reported that hosting students often leads to:

• Fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm within teams
• Opportunities to reflect on and improve their own practice
• Enhanced collaboration between services and sectors
• A culture of continuous learning and mutual respect

Patients and clients, too, can benefit from the presence of student nurses, who often bring curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to listen and learn.

Challenges and Opportunities

Of course, the panel did not shy away from discussing the challenges. Logistical issues, varying levels of support, and the benefits of consistent mentorship were all acknowledged. However, these challenges were framed as opportunities for innovation and growth. For example, developing stronger partnerships between universities and placement providers.

Reflecting on Our Roles

A key takeaway from the session was the importance of individual and collective responsibility in creating positive learning environments. Whether you're a practice learning facilitator, assessor, supervisor, a placement coordinator, or a team member working alongside students, our role in shaping their experience is crucial.

Conclusion 

Head of Independent Health and Social Care, Claire Sutton, said: "I am delighted to hear about the positive impact placements in diverse settings can have for student nurses. Exposure to the variety of opportunities open to qualified nurses during their training is so important. Thank you to the team for putting on such an informative and thought-provoking session".

The session concluded with an encouraging reflection from The RCN Professional Lead for Students, Lorna Mayles, who said: "If we don’t offer student nurses a variety of placement experiences across all sectors of health and care, then how can they begin to understand where nursing can take them? Nursing is a career full of opportunities and possibilities….if you get the chance to explore them!"