Partnering with veterinary students to enhance clinical workplace learning: development of a learning environment champions initiative

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi35.1320

Keywords:

clinical learning environment, psychological safety, incivility, veterinary education, student experience

Abstract

Negative experiences in clinical learning environments (CLEs) lead to long-term consequences such as decreased confidence, reluctance to engage, and attrition from Veterinary programmes (Holt, Farrell and Corrigan, 2023). The Small Animal Hospital, a training site for final-year Veterinary students, immerses them in real-world clinical practice. As a potentially high-stress environment, measures to improve student psychological safety were implemented, with the launch of a Learning Environment Champions (LEC) initiative. Developed in response to student feedback, it encompasses a compassionate pedagogical approach involving staff and students working in partnership, with the aim of enhancing the CLE by promoting supportive and positive learning experiences. This case study describes the first year of the initiative, which is a system for monitoring student perceptions of, and experiences within, the CLE while simultaneously working to change the culture of the CLE by focusing on civility and psychological safety. Using an iterative cycle of feedback and improvement, developments included a new staff role, staff training, a hospital social contract, a process for student safeguarding, and student-led creation of resources. Reflective professional discussions highlighted that the initiative has built staff appreciation of the importance of a civil CLE, has positively influenced teaching and clinical support of students, but raised concerns of unintended consequences for LECs including compassion fatigue. The early phase of this initiative has created a support system for students during their practicum. Long term, this may help to significantly improve student perceptions of the CLE, thus improving the learning potential for this environment.

Author Biographies

Samantha Fontaine, University of Glasgow

Sam Fontaine is a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Science and Education and is a Registered Veterinary Nurse. She is first-year BVMS course leader and director of the MSc Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing. Prior to this, she was the Deputy Head Nurse and Senior Oncology Nurse at the Small Animal Hospital, where she participated in the clinical teaching and supervision of Veterinary and Veterinary Nurse students and helped drive improvements within the working and learning environment. Sam teaches reflective practice and evidence-based Veterinary Medicine and advocates for interprofessional collaboration. She is currently working towards a doctorate in Education.

Katie McNaught, University of Glasgow

Katie McNaught returned to the University of Glasgow after six years in clinical practice. She became a European recognised Specialist in Small Animal Oncology in 2021 and currently works as an Academic Clinician at the Small Animal Hospital. In this role, Katie has developed a particular interest in case-based and workplace learning and optimising the clinical learning environment. Katie is currently working towards her MEd with a focus on student mental health and wellbeing.

Jennifer Hammond, University of Glasgow

Jenny Hammond is Professor of Veterinary Education and Deputy Head of the School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow. Jenny’s background is as a Clinical Teacher in Small Animal General Practice at the University of Glasgow. Having developed an interest in Veterinary education, assessment, and curriculum design, she was part of the school’s working group designing and implementing the new BVMS Curriculum and has completed a Professional Doctorate in Veterinary Education. Jenny now leads the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) programme and continues to develop her interest in educational research and scholarship relating to workplace learning, education for uncertainty, professional skills development, and assessment.

Catherine Stalin, University of Glasgow

Kate Stalin is Head of the Small Animal Division and oversees the organisation of the Small Animal Hospital to ensure an appropriate learning environment and training opportunities for final-year Veterinary students. She is eager that students have ‘real-life’ experiences in a psychologically safe environment that prepares them for various clinical scenarios and social interactions upon graduation.

Katie Ross, University of Glasgow

Katie Ross has been a Clinician at the University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital since 2022 and is currently an intern in Small Animal Ophthalmology. Katie has been actively involved in clinical teaching since 2023 and currently assists with student support and exam preparation for the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam.

Olivia Anderson-Nathan, University of Glasgow

Olivia Anderson-Nathan is a Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon and has worked as a Lecturer at University of Glasgow. She has an interest in teaching and learning approaches in clinical learning environments, and in student and staff wellbeing in the context of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). She sat on the Equality and Diversity Committee at University of Glasgow. She is also a founder of British Veterinary Chronic Illness Support and Director of Affinity Futures, a DEIB consultancy.

Zoe Hatfield, University of Glasgow

Zoe Hatfield is Registered Veterinary Nurse and Veterinary Technician Specialist (IM-Neurology). Zoe currently works at the Small Animal Hospital as a Neurology Nurse, where she participates in the clinical teaching of Veterinary and Veterinary Nurse students. She is a member of the Learning Environment Champions team.

Susan Mackenzie, University of Glasgow

Susan Mackenzie is a Registered Veterinary Nurse and Senior Internal Medicine Nurse in the Small Animal Hospital. She is passionate about fostering a supportive and safe environment, and in her role as a Learning Environment Champion guides students and colleagues alike. With a strong commitment to evidence-based medicine, Susan combines her expertise and mentoring skills to ensure the highest standards of care in veterinary practice. She is currently studying towards the MSc Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing to further enhance her knowledge in support of the profession.

Luiz Santos, University of Glasgow

Luiz Santos is a Senior Clinician in Veterinary Anaesthesia and holds a Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA) and membership with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Surgeons (ANZCVS). Luiz’s research focuses on anaesthetic safety and the application of human factors to improve patient outcomes in Veterinary Medicine, which he explores as part of his PhD at the University of Queensland. Prior to his current role, Luiz served as an Anaesthesia Lecturer at the University of Adelaide, where he coordinated DVM Anaesthesia courses and provided clinical training to Veterinary students. His professional experience also includes academic and clinical roles at Murdoch University, the University of Pennsylvania, and advanced clinical training during his residency at Cornell University. Luiz is an advocate for safer veterinary practices, co-chairing the Safer Anaesthesia in Veterinary Medicine (SAVEM) initiative and serving on various professional committees.

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Published

27-03-2025

How to Cite

Fontaine, S., McNaught, K., Hammond, J., Stalin, C., Ross, K., Anderson-Nathan, O., … Santos, L. (2025). Partnering with veterinary students to enhance clinical workplace learning: development of a learning environment champions initiative. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (35). https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi35.1320

Issue

No. 35 (2025): Special Edition, Liberating Learning

Section

Caring and compassionate pedagogies

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