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Time Management
Nurses in clinical settings may have limited time to proactively identify and address students' learning needs or concerns (Cleary & Walter, 2010b ). It is rare for nurses to be able to complete all nursing activities and meet the expectations of peers, patients, managers, and students during a given shift. Invariably the unexpected occurs. Contingencies have to be identified as low, medium, or high priorities to determine how they best fit within the day's schedule.
Nursing students new to clinical settings are likely to be tentative about the rules of clinical engagement and potential clinical learning opportunities. Students usually approach clinical placements with enthusiasm or excitement, but they need structure and support to learn effectively. They have little idea what they can achieve in one shift. Inadequate planning and time management skills may result in students' feeling apprehensive, stressed, or overwhelmed.
Nursing students need effective time management skills to remain focused on clinical learning against the backdrop of high activity levels, occasional emergencies, and inherent potential distractions. Although experienced clinicians tend not to discuss time management, students have to be aware of its centrality and build on their existing skills. Students must be introduced to practices and ideas regarding time management in the classroom and the clinical setting so that they plan, prioritize, and allocate time to learn effectively. Time management is as important to students' achieving clinical learning goals as it is to registered nurses' completing as many demands as possible of a given shift.
Learning Goals
Students' learning goals can range from...