Linking students to patient participation groups

Young, Kim

Kim Young is lecturer in adult nursing; Ray Jones is professor of health informatics; both at the school of nursing and midwifery at Plymouth University; Heather Eardley is national projects director, the Patients Association

•This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

5 key points

1 Non-clinical attachments focused on wider patient engagement could give student nurses the chance to better understand patients' needs

2 Attachment to patient participation groups can help students to develop their communication skills

3 Student nurses have skills and ideas that can benefit the groups

4 Activities can be mapped to students' practicecompetency assessment criteria

5 Patient participation groups' activity varies, which must be considered when allocating students

Nursing Times 112(31):p 14-17, July 20, 2016.

Abstract

Young K et al (2016) Linking students to patient participation groups. Nursing Times; 112: 29/30/31, 14–17. Student nurses have few opportunities to engage with patients in non-clinical activities, and patient participation groups often need additional resources and skills. A pilot study explored the feasibility of linking students with these groups to see whether either party could benefit from the association. This article describes the activities students undertook, along with the barriers and benefits encountered.

In this article…

> The aim of patient participation groups

> Tasks students could undertake when attached to a group

> Views about student involvement in the groups

A pilot study ascertained the feasibility and benefits of attaching student nurses to local primary care patient participation groups, as well as the barriers to doing so