THE LEARNING CAREER IN THE COMMUNITY SETTING - A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF A PROJECT 2000 PLACEMENT

The findings of one element of an English National Board-funded resear ch study conducted in two phases between 1989 and 1992 are discussed. The study examined one aspect of the new Project 2000 courses introduc ed in 13 'demonstration districts' in England in the autumn of 1989, D uring Phase 2 of the study (1991-1992), 14 district nursing sisters an d 12 of the students they supervised were interviewed. Data were re-tr anscribed and interpreted in 1993; the interpretation was based on a p henomenological paradigm which focused on the subjective perceptions o f students and supervisors, Participants identified 'learning', as it took place in the community setting, as a sequential process, which is referred to here as the 'learning career'. Using terminology adopted by participants themselves; the authors identify the stages of the 'le arning career' as: 'encountering reality'; 'having a go'; 'gaining con fidence'; 'thinking through and understanding'; 'developing ideas'; 'b eing independent'; and 'being assessed', Supervisors could ease their students' passage through this complex and anxiety-provoking sequence of events in a number of ways, They could demonstrate their practice a nd provide opportunities for students to gain experience for themselve s; they could teach their students about nursing, and enable them to r eflect on their own practice; and they could also monitor and assess t heir students' work.