Our research focus is on healthcare students’ education with a special emphasis on the clinical learning environment and mentoring. The clinical learning environment is an important element of healthcare education and up to half of the total duration of healthcare education can take place in clinical placements. Students’ professional competence develop when they enter authentic clinical learning environments and interact with patients under the supervision of healthcare professionals.
As a result of globalization, cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) is a common phenomenon in healthcare and healthcare education. Cultural and linguistic diversity in healthcare offers versatile opportunities for students and their mentors to grow in their competence in providing culturally competent care.
We advocate for increasing knowledge and providing education for healthcare professionals and students that aim to build positive experiences in situations where cultural and linguistic diversity is encountered.
Our research is needed because…
CALD healthcare students continue to face the greatest challenges during completion of their clinical placements
The role of mentors of CALD healthcare students can be challenging and mentors can benefit from educational programs to increase their competence in mentoring.
Countries across the globe can benefit from the sharing of knowledge regarding the clinical learning environment and mentoring of CALD healthcare students.
Our key findings…
Linguistic diversity has a profound impact on CALD healthcare students’ integration into clinical learning environments.
CALD healthcare students can benefit significantly from training to improve their proficiency in the local language.
Mentors of CALD healthcare students rate their competence in mentoring highly, but continue to face challenges related to linguistic diversity in mentoring.
It is vital that the necessary support structures are in place for successful integration of nursing staff from other countries and CALD healthcare students in providing safe, culturally competent care in diverse healthcare settings.
We research
Healthcare students
- CALD students’ experiences and perceptions of clinical learning environment and
mentoring - Concepts defining the clinical learning environment of CALD students
- Factors explaining the outcomes of clinical learning environments
Healthcare professionals
- Mentors’ experiences of CALD students learning in clinical environments
Concepts defining mentoring of CALD students - Factors explaining the outcomes of mentoring of CALD students
- Healthcare staff competence in mentoring CALD students
- Educational interventions designed to increase mentors’ competence in mentoring CALD
students - Clinical facilitators´ experiences of mentoring CALD students in clinical learning
environments
Psychometrically tested scales:
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity scale (CALDs- Mikkonen 2017)
Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher scale (CLES+T- Saarikoski
2008)
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Mentoring scale (CALD+Ms- Mikkonen 2017)
Mentors’ Competence Instrument (MCI- Kääriäinen 2013)
Projects
National cross-sectional study on the clinical learning environment and mentoring of CALD
students- theoretical model
National education intervention on mentors’ competence in mentoring CALD students
International cross-cultural study on mentors’ competence
Partners
Oulu University Hospital, Metropolia, JAMK, LAMK, Centria, Lapland UAS, University of Turku
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, College of Nursing in Celje, G. d’Annunzio
University, University of Alicante, Charite Medical University, Tartu Health Care College,
Osaka University, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences