Content area
Full Text
Australia's nursing shortage is predicted to reach 85,000 nurses by 2025 with fewer nurses working rurally, highlighting the need to explore recruitment incentives for developing the rural workforce (HWA 2014; Gorton 2015).
Positive clinical placement experiences are crucial for students to consider pursuing employment rurally. The quality of support during clinical placement correlates to the students' level of satisfaction, influenced by the relationships developed between the student and their supervising nurse (Courtney-Pratt 2012; Edwards et al. 2004; Zilembo & Monterosso 2008).
Challenges to supporting rural clinical placements include difficulties between tertiary institutions and clinical placement sites to develop local relationships and communicate effectively. In addition, the support provided to student supervisors is limited with the majority of nurse education in Australia taking place within large metropolitan hospitals (Edwards et al. 2004).
Less than 5% of nursing students attend rural placements and there is limited reference to rural health in the current undergraduate curriculum (Neill et al. 2002; Playford et al. 2006). As a result, students' understanding of rural issues is impacted and they have less interest in 'going rural' as a career option.
The benefits of rural placements include diverse experiences and opportunities to practice clinical skills improving work readiness (Edwards et...