A new National Quality Clinical Learning Environment audit tool and guidelines have been designed for use in all higher education institutions (HEIs) and associated healthcare providers (AHCPs) where pre-registration nursing and midwifery students are placed during their training. 

The audit tool and guidelines were developed by a working group composed of representatives from HEIs, AHCPs, Trade Unions and NMBI professional standards and education staff. In developing the audit tool, NMBI conducted an extensive literature review, a review of clinical learning environment audit tools and a public consultation. NMBI received submissions from nurses, midwives and educators working in HEIs and AHCPs and these informed the final draft of the audit tool and guidelines.

Both documents have been developed with reference to research evidence on the pivotal role of the nurse and midwife in pre-registration student teaching and learning in the clinical environment. The audit tool was designed for HEIs, in collaboration with the AHCPs, to determine the suitability of the clinical learning environment for students.

These documents are now available on the NMBI website.