Ways forward for shared learning between nursing and social work students

This paper is based on the work of Connor (1995) which examined the potential for shared learning on qualifying programmes of social work and nurse education in Wales. The research was carried out mainly by interviewing 44 providers of social work and nurse education in the 13 colleges delivering qualifying courses throughout Wales. The main findings indicate that: nursing and social work educators have a positive attitude to shared learning, provided that the focus is on sharing appropriate areas of learning and not on joint training; there are considerable areas of commonality between social work and nurse education that could be shared; obstacles to shared learning mainly concern structural and resource issues which would require the appropriate political will to implement shared learning programmes; and there are a wide variety of models that could be used to implement future shared learning. The management of this project with its commitment to collaboration between the two professional groups throughout the process of enquiry is offered as a model for further research projects.