DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire Department of Nursing and Portsmouth Regional Hospital are partnering this fall to implement a Dedicated Education Unit (DEU), an innovative clinical teaching model. The DEU is best practice for clinical learning and has been demonstrated to be an effective, robust model to prepare the next generation of nurses and nurse educators.

A DEU is a clinical setting that is committed to fostering an optimal teaching/learning environment through the collaborative efforts of nurses, health care team members, management and faculty. It is designed to provide students with a positive clinical learning environment that utilizes best practice teaching/learning strategies by capitalizing on the expertise of both clinicians and faculty. Students are integrated into the unit in a way that allows them to be an integral part of the workflow and culture so they experience a realistic picture of nursing practice. At the same time the DEU provides an opportunity for staff nurses to stay fresh and motivated in their roles as mentors and role models, and a way for faculty to remain grounded in current clinical practice.

UNH received special Board of Nursing review and approval to initiate the pilot program. Eight students will be selected and matched with eight Portsmouth Regional Hospital staff nurses interested in becoming nurse educators. A clinical educator from UNH will supervise the DEU experience.

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Caption: Front row: UNH Assistant Clinical Professor Megan Gray, MS, APRN, FNP-BC, CNL Nursing Students: Lindsey Wassell, Sofia Carapeta, Mary Scott. Back Row: Students: Alexis Tremaine, Annie Haas, Charles Adler, Rebecca Pettis, Emily Koester, and Dr. Tracey Collins, professional development director at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Courtesy photo