Entry to Practice Student Nurse Clinical Placements
The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) is committed to the Entry to Practice Student Nurse Program and to providing supported learning opportunities for entry to practice student nurses in a paediatric acute, sub-acute care and mental health clinical setting.
This is an opportunity for student nurses to consolidate their knowledge in paediatric acute, sub acute and mental health clinical settings, and work towards clinical competency.
Clinical education will be facilitated either by a ward based Preceptor or Clinical Educator of the RCH. Nursing students are provided with the opportunity to care for children and families in a supportive learning environment. This support will provide students with feedback about development of their nursing knowledge and skills while in a practice setting.
Expressions of interest for Entry to Practice student clinical placements should be submitted to the Clinical Nurse Educator, Entry to Practice Program via Placeright. This is to be completed as per the Placeright timeline for consideration for the next placement calendar year.
The RCH supports nursing clinical placements for Victorian students, from a range of tertiary institutions. All placements are to be negotiated between the University and the RCH via Placeright, and require a signed Student Clinical Placement Agreement between both
parties.
Clinical placement manual
The goal of the Clinical placement Manual is to provide a clear and comprehensive document that will outline the start to end process and guidelines, which govern the clinical placement for Entry to Practice nursing students at the RCH.
Entry to Practice Nursing Student Scope of Practice
All Entry to Practice nursing students who undertake a clinical placement at the RCH are final year students and as such will have a much broader scope of practice due to their advanced level of learning. Conversely, the students who have a placement at the RCH need to recognise that
their previous learning in an adult environment will need to be adapted to working within a paediatric environment. It is for this reason that the RCH have defined a scope of practice specifically for nursing students working within a paediatric setting. This will help all who are involved in
working with the students to have a clear definition of what the students are able to engage in and in turn will enhance the students learning experience while at the RCH.
Incident management
The purpose of this procedure is to provide a clear framework for Preceptors, the Nursing Education Team and Nurse Unit Managers in the management and reporting of incidents in relation to Entry to Practice nursing students while on clinical placement at the RCH.
Management of performance concerns
The purpose of this procedure is to provide a framework for Preceptors, the Nursing Education Team and the Nurse Educator, and Entry to Practice nursing students in the management and reporting of performance concerns encountered with Entry to Practice nursing students completing
a clinical placement at the RCH.
Placement confirmations
Once placements have been confirmed universities are required to complete the Placeright onboarding requirements at least 1 month prior to student commencements, as per the DHHS requirements.
Students are required to complete pre-placement documentation and undertake orientation and pre-learning upon commencement.
It is highly recommended that all Entry to Practice nursing students read the below information and access the
RCH student orientation website (link to another RCH webpage) prior to commencing clinical placement.
Entry to Practice student clinical placements
The RCH is committed to the Entry to Practice Student Nurse Program and to provide learning opportunities for Entry to Practice student nurses in an acute, sub-acute and mental health clinical setting, with a supportive environment.
This is an opportunity for students to consolidate their knowledge and work towards clinical competency.
Clinical education will be facilitated either by a ward-based preceptor, or clinical educator of the RCH. Nursing students are provided with the opportunity to care for children and families in a supportive learning environment. This support will provide students with
feedback about development of their nursing knowledge and skills while in a practice setting.
Expressions of interest for Entry to Practice student clinical placements should be submitted via Placeright (in consultation with the Clinical Nurse Educator, Entry to Practice Program). Queries can be directed to nursing.education@rch.org.au.
The RCH supports placements for Victorian students, from a range of tertiary institutions. All placements are to be arranged between the University and the RCH and require a signed Student Clinical Placement Agreement between both parties.
Orientation program
University students must attend an Orientation Day session and complete pre-learning requirements upon commencement of their clinical placement:
Preparation for Orientation
Entry to Practice Student Nurse Program Orientation Declaration & Emergency Contact Information link will be provided to students via email and will be required to be completed before commencing placement.
It is a requirement that students present the following documents and forms to the Educator when they attend the Orientation Day Session:
- Hand hygiene Australia Learning package,
- Work with Children's Check Card
Expectations of students
- An orientation day must be attended prior to commencing your clinical placement (read above)
- Student to bring the required and completed documentation with them to their Orientation Day Session
- Mobile telephones must not be carried on you throughout any of your shifts
- Understand and respect patient rights
- Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
- Introduce yourself to the patient and family of whom you are caring for and ensure they are aware you will be participating in their care for that shift. This exchange also needs to be clearly documented in the patient notes
- Be punctual and courteous at all times
- Adhere to the RCH
Code of Conduct
- Adhere to the RCH OH&S policy
- Adhere to professional codes of conduct in appearance
- University uniform is compulsory and to be worn in areas of direct contact with patients and the public
- Student identification is required to be worn at all times by all visiting students
- Advise the Preceptor if you are going to be late or unable to attend any shift
- Have the recommended immunisations, these are advised in the Undergraduate Nurse Clinical Booklet and communicated to the University
- Carry your Working with Children Check on you at all times
- Be appropriately equipped e.g. watch, pens, scissors etc
- Be appropriately prepared for your clinical experience e.g. completed learning for clinical placement
- Discuss any absence from the ward beforehand with your Preceptor to ensure that patient care is not compromised
- Familiarise yourself with the hospital's
Policies and Procedures
Rosters will encompass full rotating shifts including mornings, afternoon, night duty and weekend shifts.
Your rosters will be distributed on your first day of clinical placement.
- As a member of our team, you will play an important role in ensuring that we achieve the expected high standards of service
- Take pride in the service you provide our patients and families, your presentation and the ward that you are representing
- Work as part of a team. Respect and support your fellow team members demonstrating positive, friendly and enthusiastic interaction at all times when on duty
- Seek advice, assistance and support of your fellow team members when required
Entry to Practice Nursing Student Scope of Practice
All Entry to Practice nursing students who undertake a clinical placement at the RCH need to recognise that their previous learning in the university environment and in other clinical settings will need to be adapted to working within a paediatric environment. It is for this reason that the RCH have defined a scope of practice specifically for nursing students working within a paediatric setting. This will help all who are involved in working with the students to have a clear definition of what the students are able to engage in and in turn will enhance the students learning experience while at the RCH.
Conclusion of clinical placement
Once students have completed their clinical placement they are required to have their completed clinical assessment documentation sighted and signed by their Clinical Support Nurse or Nurse Educator. The student is then responsible for returning their student access card to the Clinical Nurse Educator, Entry to Practice Program. Do not return the card to the Security Desk.
Following the conclusion of clinical placements, students will be invited to complete a clinical placement feedback form via email to nursing.education@rch.org.au.
RCH wards
Car parking
Limited Car Parking is available on Flemington Road (at a small cost)
The RCH's guide for car parking (this is a link to another RCH webpage) provides information regarding the hospital car park.
Please see the above ward links for contact details of each ward.
Universities only are to make contact with the Nurse Educator for any information or documentation regarding clinical placements. Students should make contact with their respective University.