Innovative virtual practice placement model celebrated in international journal
HCRG Care Group worked in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University to publish a paper in the International Journal for Nurse Education, showcasing its innovative and virtual practice placement solution to increase student capacity whilst exposing nursing and Allied Health Professional students to community healthcare.
The virtual practice placements provide the foundations for a sustainable and effective model of the future and has been embedded as part of the standard offer delivered to all pre-registration students by HCRG Care Group’s in-house learning and development provider, The Learning Enterprise.
Since the model was introduced, HCRG Care Group has seen an increase in student capacity, the development of a wider offering of placements, and more students onboarding full-time directly from education, reducing pressure for colleagues working on the frontline.
It’s also enabled HCRG Care Group to contribute to the NHS’ long-term plan to facilitate the Department of Health’s intended 25% increase in providing nurse undergraduate places.
Paul Lundbeck, People Services Director, said: “With health systems all over the world facing recruitment and retention challenges, we identified a need to train more nurses in a way that would incorporate a level of flexibility and adaptability to placements, whilst considering an ever-changing system and continuing to provide high-quality care.
“Our virtual practice placements have demonstrated they’re a viable complement to traditional placements and provide an opportunity to be integrated into the health and social care provision.”
