Addressing nursing student clinical placement poverty concerns: A discussion paper

Background

Research indicates that more than two-thirds of Australian nursing students experience placement poverty and increased stress and anxiety because of the financial cost of completing clinical placements.

Aim

A contemporary discussion on the issue of the financial impact of placement experienced by Australian nursing students.

Design

Discursive.

Discussion

>96 % of nursing students from one Australian study expressed a necessity for financial support to complete clinical placements. Available Australian scholarships and income support programs target overall university study costs. Few are placement specific. Direct and indirect costs of placement are introduced and discussed along with the impact of placement poverty on students. Media articles indicate nursing students in other countries may also experience financial stress during placement. Solution focussed recommendations are provided.

Conclusion

Globally, rates of uptake of scholarships are largely unknown and there are eligibility barriers. Financial support mechanisms for students undertaking placement need to be widely disseminated and focus on reimbursement for placement costs incurred. Solutions must privilege students' learning over workforce contributions. Understanding nursing student experiences of placement poverty universally is needed to enhance placement learning experiences and student retention and wellbeing.