No longer ‘the student’: why learning my name and calling me colleague changes everything

Being acknowledged and included as part of the team can transform a student’s learning experience on clinical placement
I have just completed my final clinical placement as a mental health nursing student – 12 weeks with a community eating disorder service, where I have also secured my first staff nurse post.
For my last placement before qualifying, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience, largely due to the way I was welcomed and included as part of the team from day one.
An easy way to make students feel part of the team
During my first week, I was invited to a family therapy session by my practice supervisor and introduced to the patient with the words, ‘My
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