National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care: Information Hub

Background: What and Why

There is a need within Scotland to increase the availability of multidisciplinary primary care undergraduate student placements in remote and rural communities.

The Centre conducted a rapid review of literature in 2023-24 to better understand the current role of undergraduate nursing students in primary care in local, national, and international contexts.

The literature review highlighted the significance of undergraduate nursing students in primary care settings and the benefits of recruitment, retention and the broader implications of the primary care landscape. Key findings from both national and international contexts direct attention to the importance of structured, clinically focused learning resources to support placements, which has been influential on career aspiration within primary care settings. 

In Scotland, key initiatives such as the Paid Placement Initiative indicated positive outcomes from increasing student placements in primary care. To address recruitment and retention issues within rural primary care, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary for undergraduate placements.

Description: Who and How 

The Centre is working on producing a detailed action plan, aimed at a 5% increase in multidisciplinary undergraduate primary care student placements in remote, rural and island communities.

The Centre is focussing on gathering data that will consider the primary care service needs, the requirements of undergraduate training placements and statutory alignment with regulatory standards.

Expected outcome:  When and What Difference

• Provide exposure for undergraduate placements in remote, rural & Island primary care services.
• Provide a coordinated approach to contributing to sustainability of primary care services by increasing multidisciplinary placements
• Provide equity of access to undergraduate primary care placements