Enhancing clinical effectiveness in emergency care through educational diversity and collaboration

Objectives: The aim of this project was to explore the potential for enhancing clinical effectiveness in emergency nursing through an evaluation of students’ experiences on placement with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.Design: The study employs a qualitative approach that is inductive, exploratory and descriptive, with diaries and focus group interviews employed to collect data.Setting: Student placement with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.Participants: 141 nursing students (response rate: 74%).Main findings: Students’ experiences indicate that students have an increased understanding of the ambulance service, its personnel and functions. A strengthened awareness of skills and abilities of ambulance personnel, combined with enhanced awareness of the importance of inter-professional collaboration in practice and education, has created the basis for the application of holistic care of patients.Conclusions: The dawning of an understanding of the complete process of care, from the dialling of ‘999’ to the patient’s discharge, is the central precursor to enhanced quality of care to patients, which forms the basis for enhanced clinical effectiveness. Students’ powerful integration of the philosophy of holistic nursing has clear potential for enhancing clinical effectiveness in emergency nursing care.