- Nursing students will have a difficult time meeting the 800 hr requirement for graduation. This can lead to a shortage of nurses in the future. 
- It will take the pressure off of universities to provide students with clinical placements. 
- Allow nursing schools to focus more on retention of students and future success in the workforce. 


University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Due to the unpredictable circumstances of the COVID-19 on health systems, many nursing students are having difficult times finding clinical sites for their clinical experiences. This is due to the risk and burden nursing students may place, along with the reduced number of non-urgent procedures. To address the lack of clinical placements for nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic times, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) imposed several solutions. 
- Halt all clinicals
- Resume clinicals like normal
- Partially resume clinicals 
- Allow nursing students to join the work force early
- Remote clinicals

Clinical Placement in Australia 

Bogossian, F., McKenna, L., & Levett-Jones, T. (2020). Mobilising the nursing student workforce in COVID-19: The value proposition. Collegian, 27(2), 147-149.
https://www.collegianjournal.com/article/S1322-7696(20)30051-2/fulltext
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2020.04.004

Mobilising the nursing student workforce in COVID-19: The value proposition

Halting All Clinicals for Nursing Students (Australia) 

If nursing students were to engage in clinical practices, there is a potential danger. If the students were to be exposed and contact the virus while not entitled to paid leave, they will not be able to have income during their isolation. Therefore, it is crucial to allow students to opt out. Additionally, there is a lack of places for students to be placed since several units are not currently working normally (surgery, outpatient). 

Resume Clinicals like Normal (Australia) 

There will be priority given to seniors who have more experience and only have a bit more hours to fulfill. Seniority is the biggest factor for clinical placements. First years do not have the knowledge that compares to seniors. 

Partially Resume Clinicals (Australia) 

Fast tracking nursing students to enter the workforce is already prevalent in the USA and UK. However, Australian nursing programs have the least number of clinical hours completed. Nursing students can become better prepared for work in the future by developing their teamwork and work-life balance through this experience.
- The USA allows nursing students in good academic standing to apply to the New Graduate Temporary License. This program differs from state to state.
- The UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council allowed nursing students in their final six months of program to work under supervision. Usually, the UK nursing program require 2,300 clinical hours to be completed. 


Allowing Nursing Students to Join the Work Force Early (Australia) 

Nursing students may gain clinical experience remotely. The use of simulations have shown promising results, but it has mainly been used to supplement clinicals. Additionally, it will be hard for students to access simulation laboratories remotely. 

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