The Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) utilizes staff nurses who have a desire to teach as clinical instructors and prepares them for their role through collaborative staff and faculty development activities, thus supporting the professional development of nurses.1 These clinicians work closely with students on each shift as part of their normal patient load, and may be allocated multiple students, needing to organize work using a team-nursing model to accommodate those students.2 The guiding principles of DEUs, when taken in totality, generate a sense of belonging in clinical environments for students, clinical staff, and the academics. The principles include partnerships between clinicians who are expert practitioners and academics who are expert educators and the ensuing relationships that result in a collaborative partnership.1 This collaborative learning and teaching partnership also includes the student, with all three partners developing academically and clinically.1
There are many benefits for both the clinical and academic partners when a DEU is established.3 For example, when nurses at the facility become clinical instructors, benefits to the clinical partner includes increased professionalism and retention.3
The academic partners benefit, as there is consistent clinical instructors among the students and the potential for adjunct faculty appointments. Students on the unit also reap benefits and provide benefits to the clinical partner. Benefits to students include individualized instruction, mentoring, and a realistic perspective of nursing. Clinical instructors who provide education are current with medications, clinical procedures, regulations and the inner workings of the health care system. Further, students are able to network for potential future job opportunities.3
The dedicated education also benefits as a whole with a sense of ownership. Education influences practice on the unit, and practice informs education. Department nurses are able to educate the next generation of nurses and the entire unit welcomes and integrates students into the unit’s workflow and culture.
| Role | Responsibilities |
| Nurse Manager |
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| DEU Faculty Coordinator (DFC) |
Serves as the bridge between the OSF medical facility and the university/college at the unit level.
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| DEU Instructor |
This nurse provides the expert, at the bedside teaching, for students under the supervision of the DFC, helping students to integrate theory, practice, and research while challenging the student’s clinical reasoning. DEU Instructors seek out clinical experiences for the student to integrate and support classroom learning. Nurses selected for this role have a desire to teach and are committed to mentoring, guiding, and supporting the student learners in a collaborative learning environment. This nurse usually has a BSN, but occasionally will have an associate or diploma degree in nursing. Has at least 2 years of experience and are considered clinical experts by their Nurse Managers before they are selected to be educated for the role. He or she must have completed the Preceptor education course parts 1 and 2 and will take an in-seat course provided by the college/university that will be using the DEU. This course will provide an overview of the DEU model, information regarding the student’s clinical learning expectations, available education program resources, and research-based teaching modalities.4 |
| College Course Coordinator |
The faculty in charge of both lecture and clinical components of a clinical course
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| Students |
Students who will receive clinical instruction on the DEUs are juniors and seniors enrolled in undergraduate programs.
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