Student registered nurse clinical supervision outside cities: A scoping review

Introduction Clinical placement is designed to immerse nursing students in real-world practice, enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge within a safe, supported environment. High-quality rural and remote placements offer valuable exposure to diverse practice contexts and allow students to experience these communities before potential relocation. However, rural and remote healthcare facilities often face distinct challenges that may influence the quality of clinical supervision and student learning outcomes. Aim This scoping review sought to identify and synthesise the available literature on clinical supervision for student registered nurses undertaking rural and remote placements, to clarify current knowledge and highlight areas requiring further research. Methods A systematic search of five databases identified peer-reviewed publications until August 2025. Extracted data included study characteristics, methodology, participants, analysis approach, country and key findings. The review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s five-step framework: i) identifying the research question; ii) identifying relevant literature; iii) study screening and selection; iv) data extraction and v) data collation, analysis and reporting. Screening and full-text review were conducted independently using Covidence, with conflicts resolved collaboratively. Results From 1,328 articles initially identified, 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. The literature employed diverse methodological approaches, including qualitative, quantitative, and multi-method designs. Recurring themes included challenges associated with relocating for rural or remote placements; workforce constraints such as insufficient staffing and restricted skill mix; and variability in the training, expertise, and availability of clinical facilitators or preceptors to effectively support student learning in these contexts. Conclusion This review synthesises current evidence on student registered nurses’ experiences of clinical supervision in rural and remote settings. The findings highlight gaps in the literature and will inform future research aimed at strengthening supervision models to better support student registered nurses undertaking placements in rural and remote healthcare facilities.

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The National Nursing Forum 2026: Power of nurses in a changing world

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