Gerald Williams’s research while affiliated with Griffith University and other places

Background The Dedicated Education Unit is a clinical learning model designated to deliver more targeted learning opportunities and enhance student nurses learning capacity. It provides students with more opportunities to develop their skills, experience different learning events, consolidate their knowledge, and build their professional nursing identity. Methods The study followed a convergent parallel mixed-method design to investigate the nursing students and the nursing preceptors' perceptions of the Dedicated Education Unit model at Mafraq hospital. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a sample of sixty-seven nursing students and 20 nursing preceptors from March to May 2019. Results The overall results of the study were positive. Nursing preceptors were confident to communicate and constructively interact, motivate, and facilitate students' learning. However, they requested better support and more free time to supervise and answer students' questions. Nursing students reported positive learning at the dedicated units. However, they requested more support from nursing preceptors. Conclusion Implementing a Dedicated Education Unit model supported the nursing preceptors' role and enhanced nursing students' learning opportunities and hands-on experiences. Achieving a positive effect of the dedicated nursing clinical education unit requires constant collaboration between healthcare facilities and nursing education programs to maximize nursing students learning.

Background: Initially developed in Australia, Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) is an innovative approach to support the growth and development of nursing students while on clinical placement in the hospital setting. With the increasing number of nursing students requiring clinical placement, nursing needed to explore further ways to support students and preceptors in the clinical area. Methods: The study followed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design to investigate participants’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the DEU model in improving nursing students’ learning experiences. The DEU model was implemented in 2 Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) hospitals in Al Ain City, and feedback was obtained from both students and their preceptors via survey and focus group sessions. Results: The study showed positive results with students feeling supported to learn new knowledge and skills by their preceptors. Preceptors reported that they were better able to facilitate student placements in an environment that supported learning. Conclusion: The introduction of the DEU model has supported increasing numbers of students in the clinical area and provided an improved environment for learning.