Nursing students’ experiences of peer learning in a dedicated educational unit in municipal home healthcare: A phenomenological study

Abstract

The shift from hospital-based nursing care to municipal home healthcare has led to the provision of more diverse, complex and advanced nursing care in this context. This poses challenges for undergraduate nursing students’ clinical education. The aim of this study was to describe nursing students’ experiences of learning nursing care through peer learning in a dedicated educational unit in municipal home healthcare. Data were collected through interviews with seven nursing students. The analysis was based on a reflective lifeworld research approach. The study followed the COREQ checklist. Strong cooperation and feelings of safety were found to boost learning and encourage the students to challenge themselves. Alternating between an observational and an active role during independent home visits was beneficial for intertwining caring and learning. Further, being trusted to work independently increased their ethical orientation, knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.