Preparing yourself for a clinical practice placement

All students undertaking a nursing programme are required to complete clinical practice placements. These placement hours contribute to the essential components required to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council register and to practice as a nurse. Clinical practice placements can be stressful for students to undertake, and such stress can compromise their learning. Understanding the change in learning environment that accompanies a placement and thorough preparation beforehand by the student can reduce anxiety and improve the learning experience. This article describes the preparation that a student can make to ensure a successful and educational clinical practice placement.