Developing teaching competencies in undergraduate nursing students: An essential curricular component or an enrichment opportunity?

This paper reports on the findings from one small qualitative evaluative study funded by the Learn Higher Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (£5,000) which sought to identify and explore the student nurse experience of peer education from the peer educator and student recipient perspective. Principal findings of the study were that:
The peer educator role made a considerable positive impact on the life and learning of many student nurses, enhancing the student experience despite having a relatively low level of resource.
Peer-assisted learning demonstrated benefits for students and tutors/lecturers alike.
Peer educators were considered a credible source of information by other students as they share similar experiences and social norms and were therefore considered well placed to provide relevant, meaningful, explicit and honest information.