SPRiNG Living Lab

SPRiNG Living Lab aims to contribute to the resilience of primarily nursing students and starting nurses, and in a later stadium also that of other healthcare professionals. The aim is to retain nurses and other healthcare professionals in the employment market as long as possible. From the start of the education programme, we pay attention to the physical and mental health and well-being of nursing students and other care professionals.

Partly thanks to the research project 'SPRiNG: Starting Strong in Nursing', vital and resilient training and working has acquired a place in the curriculum. The research (funded from 2015-2020 by the SIA RAAK PRO programme) has contributed greatly to an understanding of physical and mental symptoms and their relationship with intention to leave and actually dropping out of education. Risk factors for complaints, thoughts of quitting and dropping out were also identified. There are many starting points for solutions to some problems and promising measures and interventions for others.

The results and insights from the research project were presented during a final symposium on 27 January 2021. Based on the initial results, we set up the SPRiNG Living Lab to develop and carry out implementation projects, create new research plans and acquire funding for them.

On the basis of the ongoing research of SPRiNG: Starting Strong in Nursing we will start with the implementation in education and practice and the design and acquisition of follow-up research.

The primary objective of the project was to gain a qualitative and quantitative insight into potential factors of drop-out due to physical and mental workload of nursing students of higher vocational education during their internship and training, but also as starting nurses in the first year of their career. In this way, specific preventive interventions can be used or developed to promote a healthy work style and a healthy learning/working environment.

The evidence-based interventions were examined. The feasibility of two promising interventions was examined and the first indications of effectiveness assessed.

Managers, study counsellors, deans, and internship and work supervisors are invited to approach the SPRiNG-LL team with questions and ideas for improving education and internship practice. With professionals from the field, teachers and students, we can develop new interventions on the basis of co-creation, and design research into the effects of new and existing interventions.

The ambition is to grow into a platform for sharing knowledge and experience that can boost nursing students’ resilience and resistance, and realise a sustainable career start for newly graduated nurses. The knowledge and expertise are also used for educational development, with lessons, courses and training incorporated into the curriculum. Offering support will always take into account a student’s important needs. In designing the support and guidance structure, we look closely at current activities and structures and try to link up with these. In developing education, we also look for support from various course holders, members of the curriculum committee and, of course, the management.