Expanding clinical placement opportunities: Exploring night shift experiences for nursing students

Abstract

Academic programs grapple with the daunting task of managing a growing influx of nursing students while ensuring the quality and accessibility of clinical placements, and simultaneously engaging in competition among themselves to secure diverse clinical sites. This article delves into the innovative approach of integrating night shift clinical placements for nursing students to address the challenges posed by growing competition for day shift opportunities in acute care hospital settings. With pressure mounting on academic programs to accommodate a rising number of qualified nursing students while ensuring sufficient clinical placements, this initiative aims to alleviate strain on day shift nursing staff, mitigate teaching fatigue, and provide students with diverse learning experiences. Drawing upon a comprehensive review of literature and practical considerations, this article presents a detailed exploration of the benefits, planning processes, implementation strategies, and evaluation methods associated with night shift clinical placements in prelicensure nursing programs.