Evaluation of a virtual placement for mental health nursing students: a pilot study

Purpose Large numbers of nursing students and the COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary to relieve the pressure on UK hospitals to host clinical placements. One hospital innovated by providing a virtual placement online, immediately before an in-person placement. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the participant responses to the online virtual placement. Design/methodology/approach This was a pilot study evaluated after the placement, including a student survey (25 responses), four semi-structured interviews with students and four with staff in spring 2021. Findings High levels of approval of the innovation were recorded among both students and staff. Students were pleased to be taught by clinical experts, though some found it difficult to study at home and some found the hours long. High satisfaction levels may reflect the pandemic context: the placement reduced social isolation and the sense of education being interrupted. Participating students were in their final year of study, and the placement took place in the second year of the pandemic, so mutual familiarity and well-developed information technology skills may have made the innovation more acceptable. Practical implications The innovation has value and should be maintained post-pandemic to increase mental health in-person placement capacity and scaffold student learning. Originality/value This study added new knowledge to understanding about the utility of virtual placements in mental health nursing education.