THE CLINICAL ROLE OF THE NURSE TEACHER - AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY OF THE NURSE TEACHERS PRESENT AND IDEAL ROLE IN THE CLINICAL AREA

This paper describes a study which aimed to explore the present and id eal role of the nurse teacher in the clinical area from the perspectiv e of: nurse teachers; ward sisters/charge nurses; staff nurses and stu dents nurses undertaking the 'traditional' and Project 2000 programmes of training. The study adopted a qualitative design. Findings from th is study demonstrate that the clinical role of the nurse teacher lacks clarity, however, clear criteria emerged as to how trained nurses and student nurses perceived the ideal role. Nurse teachers' role in assu ring the quality of the clinical learning environment emerged as a maj or area of criticism. It was suggested that, if nurse teachers adopted a clinical role that was primarily concerned with supporting clinical ly based nurses in their teaching role, this served to assure the qual ity of students' clinical learning experience. In conclusion, it is su ggested that for nurse teachers to meet the needs of trained nurses an d student nurses in the clinical area, the role must be diverse and fl exible. Attempts to prescribe a unimodel approach to deliver the servi ce should be avoided. Rather, the role must be negotiated between teac hers, clinical nurses and students, and constructed in a way that best meets the needs of all parties concerned.