Belongingness: A critique of the concept and implications for nursing education.

Full Abstract

Clinical experience is recognised as central to nursing education. Quality clinical placements across a range of venues are vital to the development of competent and confident professionals. However there is evidence, both empirical and anecdotal, suggesting that nursing students' clinical placement experiences are often fraught with problems. These problems are long standing and multi-dimensional. For many students clinical placements are typified by feelings of alienation and a lack of belongingness. This paper proposes that the problematic nature of clinical placements may be better understood through the lens of 'belongingness'. A critical review of selected studies drawn from the psychological and social science literature provides insight and useful direction for a more focused review of the nursing literature. The potential relationships between belongingness, nursing students, and their clinical placement experiences are then exemplified by excerpts taken from the nursing literature (including unpublished material). Finally, an ongoing study that seeks to address the paucity of empirical research in this area is highlighted.

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Author information

Author/s: Levett-Jones, Tracy (T); Lathlean, Judith (J); Maguire, Jane (J); McMillan, Margaret (M);

Affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Tracy.Levett-jones(-atsign-)newcastle.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Nurse education today (Nurse Educ Today), published in Scotland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 27 (issue 3) : pp 210-8

Dates: Created 2007/03/05; Completed 2007/05/25;

PMID: 16828935, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attitude of Health Personnel
Clinical Competence
Drive
Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate - organization & administration
Empathy
Humans
Interprofessional Relations
Job Satisfaction
Models, Educational
Models, Psychological
Motivation

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