The adrenaline rush: nursing students’ experiences with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

AIM: The aim of this project was to explore nursing students' experiences whilst on placement with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. BACKGROUND: The literature suggests that experiential learning can enhance understanding, knowledge and skills and has the potential for reducing the theory-practice gap. DESIGN: A qualitative approach was utilized, employing diaries and focus group interviews to gather data. One hundred and fifty-four nursing students submitted diaries, producing a response rate of 69%, while 190 students partook in interviews (86%). FINDINGS: Content analysis indicated that the students gained a new appreciation of the concept of holistic care, and that increased interprofessional understanding provides the foundation for improved quality of patient care.