The Benefits of Clinical Placements in General Practice for Nursing Students

Clinical placements in General Practice offer several benefits for nursing students (dependent on cohort capabilities): 

• Enhances practical skills 
• Exposure to real healthcare settings 
• Improved patient interactions  

About Your Placement 

Your placement has been organised by the Clinical Placements team at the Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) on behalf of the University you attend and in accordance with your mandatory teaching requirements.   This is a mandatory placement and failure to attend will be addressed directly by your respective university. 

Your university will advise you of your allocated placement, usually four weeks prior to it commencing.  This information will have the name of the practice and the RN preceptor contact details.  

Two weeks prior to the commencement of your placement you will receive an email and SMS reminder from the Clinical Placements team at the GCPHN asking you to undertaking. 

• Start date 
• Duration of placement 
• Practice location and contact details for the practice 

The above information is placed in SONIA for you.  

Nursing students undertaking placement must ensure they meet the following criteria:

• Placements are on a full-time capacity eg. 37.5 + hours per week include public holidays and can include weekend and evening shifts.  The full allocation of hours must be met. 
• Students are NOT permitted to undertake their placement with a family member or partner, in a facility where a family member or partner is employed or in a facility where the student is employed 
• In addition, if they are a patient of the GP/Practice and neither is their partner, or any member of their family 

We hope you are looking forward to your upcoming general practice placement.  In preparation for your placement, you will have received an email and SMS from the Clinical Placements Team with a request for you to undertake an orientation presentation specific to the university you attend.   You will have also been asked to

• Contact the practice you have been allocated to two weeks prior to placement to speak to the Registered Nurse 
• Identify yourself as a nursing student, what University you attend and what cohort you are in 
• Provide your full name and preferred name 
• Confirm which RN you have been allocated to 
• Confirm the dates of your placement and start times 
• Provide the RN and practice manager or delegate with your contact details 

The orientation presentation must be viewed, and all required actions undertaken.  

This includes completing the following Student Nurse Orientation Checklist that can be found here: Student Nurse Orientation Checklist

Upon completion of your nursing placement, the GPCHN Clinical Placements team we will invite you to participate in a feedback survey about your placement via email and/or SMS This feedback is valuable to both the University and the General Practices who hosted you for placement.

You can also access this Post Placement Feedback Survey at:

Nursing students feedback – Gold Coast Primary Health Network

Feedback from both RN Preceptors and Nursing Students around clinical placements is crucial as it provides insights for improvement, enhances understanding and fosters growth in our medical placements program. 

Below are some testimonials that showcase examples from our RNs and students. 

Year 2 Undergraduate Nurse: 

Gaining practical skills and applying theoretical knowledge in real world scenario, building connections with industry professional and exposure to Health industry practice. My RN Preceptor was not only genuinely nice but also incredibly supportive throughout my placement. Their constant encouragement and guidance played a pivotal role in fostering my learning and professional development. They took the time to explain complex concepts, patiently answered my questions, and provided constructive feedback, creating a positive and nurturing environment. Their unwavering support and belief in my abilities boosted my confidence and motivated me to strive for excellence in my role. I am truly grateful for their mentorship and the impact they had on my overall experience.  Thank you for supporting and believing me ! 

Year 3 Undergraduate Nurse: 

Working with lovely staff, building rapport with patients, completing wound cares, and assisting doctors with procedures.  Provided me opportunities to practice my skills and provided constructive feedback when needed. Keep doing what you are doing 😊  

EN to RN Student Nurse: 

The opportunity to work with patients from different demographic groups and with different health conditions. The guidance and support provided by the staff. The ability to interact with patients and provide care firsthand and develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.  The teaching approach was effective in helping me understand new concepts and procedures. Provided supervision during patient interactions and procedures, ensuring that I was providing safe and appropriate care. Provided constructive feedback and evaluated my performance and was very encouraging and supportive.