Investing in organisational culture: nursing students’ experience of organisational learning culture in aged care settings following a program of cultural development

Background: Concerns around organisational learning culture limit nursing student placements in aged care settings to first year experiences. Aim: Determine the impact of an extended staff capacity building program on students’ experiences of the organisational learning culture in the aged care setting. Design: Pre and post-test design. Methods: A convenience sample of first, second and third year Bachelor of Nursing students attending placements at three residential aged care facilities completed the Clinical Learning Organisational Culture Survey. Responses between the group that attended placement before the program (n = 17/44; RR 38%) and the group that attended following the program (n = 33/72; RR 45%) were compared. Results: Improvements were noted in the areas of recognition, accomplishment, and influence, with decreases in dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Organisational investment in building staff capacity can produce a positive learning culture. The aged care sector offers a rich learning experience for students when staff capacity to support learning is developed.