INTRODUCTION

The basic planning of clinical experience and theory class is a function of the faculty each block of
clinical and theory should be carefully planned by keeping the objectives in view. So that it will
provide the learning needed at a particular stage in the course. That is why it is important for the
student to be in the right clinical area at the right time It is equally important for staff and students to
know their clinical posting and block classes. While planning judicious decision-making, providing
experience as per need and plan for supervision gives better learning.
Rotation plan is the diagrammatic representation of planning (Theory and Practical, etc.) of a year
for a specific group or class. The syllabus of the INC and their affiliated university should be
followed as a guide line for planning clinical experience for fulfilling the minimum requirements.
While planning for theory and clinical experience the tutor must keep the following things in the
mind:
 How one class can be divided into a number of groups.
 Size of the class and number of students.
 Size of theory and clinical area.

TYPES OF ROTATION PLAN

 Master Rotation Plan
 Clinical Rotation Plan

MASTER ROTATION PLAN

Master rotation plan is a blueprint of entire plan of course [GNM/BSc (N)]. It facilitates, maintains
and regulates the harmonious function of an institution. The principal or the administrative person is
responsible to make the plan effective in nursing education.

Definition
 Master Rotation Plan is an overall plan which shows rotation of all students in a particular
educational institution.
 It shows the placement of the students belonging to various groups/classes in a clinical nursing as
well as community.
 It denotes duration of the placement that includes theoretical (teaching) block, partial block (half
clinical and half theory) block and clinical block.

Nature of Plan
 Rotation plan of each year is also known as Annual Rotation Plan.
 It is prepared in advance for the whole year.
 It gives complete and clear picture about the student's placement.
 It must include period of teaching block, practical block, preparation time, examinations and
vacations.
 Master Rotation Plan for each year can be prepared separately then put into combined chart.
 The teacher should be aware of student's placement.
 Overlapping or shortage in particular area can be noted.
 The teacher should follow INC and university syllabus.
 The teacher should consider all three domains (cognitive, affective and psychomotor).

Domains Used in Planning

1. Cognitive domain: Includes knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and
evaluation.
2. Affective domain: Includes receiving, responding, valuing, organization and characterization.
3. Psychomotor domain: Includes imitation, manipulation, precision, articulation and naturalism.

Purpose of Master Rotation Plan

 Gives information about entire course plan.
 It helps for effective coordination.
 Helps to prepare (both teachers and students) themselves in advance.
 It helps to facilitate to do modification in future.
 It helps in effective evaluation.
 It gives tentative advance plans about examination and vocation.

Factors to be considered while making a Master Rotation Plan

 Objectives of the courses.
 Number of students in the class.
 Number of departments/areas.
 Size of the departments.
 Duration of experience.
 Number of persons available for supervision.
 INC/university requirements.

Principles of Master Rotation Plan

 Theoretical instruction should precede as closely as possible the clinical experience, ward
classes, clinical care presentations should be held simultaneously.
 There should be at least one instructor in clinical area who is well prepared in her field-available
to students.
 Selection of areas of experience should proceed from simple to complex.
 The teaching staff should be involved whenever feasible and must be familiar with the rotation
plan.
 Rotation plan should be made in advance.
 Continuity of experience, which is considered essential.
 Overlapping must be avoided.
 Each block of clinical experience being used in the rotation should be of the same duration.
 Each student must rotate through each block. No block can be missed by students as the blocks
have been planned to provide altogether the experience required to meet the objectives of
curriculum.
 All students should enter and leave the block at the scheduled times so that the rotation plan can
operate efficiently and the teaching within the block.

Responsibility of Teaching Staff

 Correlate theory and practice.
 Participate teaching, supervision and evaluation.
 Prepare students in theory block before they enter in clinical block.
 Maintain adequate and regular attendance at both the classroom and clinical areas.
 Report the principal or concerned person for any change or modification.
 Domain of an educational objective should be followed.

Steps in Construction of Master Rotation Plan

 Before making Master rotation plan, list down theory and practical hours prescribed for each
subject by INC.
 Weeks available per year are 52 weeks.
1 block = 4 weeks, so divide rotation plan into 13 blocks, i.e., 52 weeks.
 Depending on strength of students and clinical areas, divide students into groups. Example for
strength of 60 students, we can divide into 6 groups. Each group has 10 students; 5 in morning
and 5 in evening.
 Align groups vertically and blocks horizontally. In graph sheet, divide large block into groups
and blocks.
 On horizontal axis, mark 52 weeks and 13 blocks.
 Enter summer and winter vacations, examination as prescribed by INC.
 Plan how to divide classes and clinical area, whether in partial block or complete block. 1 week =
40 hours i.e., Monday to Friday 7 hours (7 x 5 = 35) and Saturday 5 hours. Total = 35 + 5 = 40
hours.
 Accordingly divide into classes and clinical area different colour and codes can be used to depict
various areas.
 Make key indicating areas and hours allotted.
CLINICAL ROTATION PLAN
Clinical experience is an integral part of learning skills in nursing. The time the student spends in the
clinical area in hospital; community on health clinics is an important and integral part of the total
program of school or college.

Definition
 Clinical Rotation Plan is made to make sure that each student in a particular block posting under
goes for experience in each planned area, e.g., in an 8-week period of posting, the students need
to gain experience in following areas like: MMW, MSW, FMW, FSW, ortho ward, burns ward. A
plan can be made for individual students for rotation. (Keep the principles in mind while
planning).
 The objectives related to the experience to be discussed with the students, so that they can gain
maximum during the time of their clinical placement. The student should main logbook or record
of daily experience in the area of posting. The individual rotation plan is prepared by the subject
teacher in consultation with higher authorities to rotate each student into the assigned area related
to the specific course of study.

Needs of the Student in the Clinical Area

The following principles and factors should be kept in mind while preparing a rotation plan in order
to achieve the specific educational objectives of each block of clinical experience and to ensure gain
of maximum benefit by the students form their clinical assignments.
 The students need to understand the objectives and assignment for their respective clinical
placements.
 The students need to be oriented to each new clinical area.
 The learning experiences should be provided as out lined on the objectives for a particular
clinical experience and necessary facilities made available to each student for the practice of
good nursing with correlation of theoretical principle into practice.
 Guidance and supervision should be provided to each student.
 Assignments should be given according to the level of learning acquired by each student.
 Protect from practicing along at the level of her preparation unless individual demonstrate the
independency and appropriate decision-making.
 Student must be given the opportunity to work in a team, and their performance should be
discussed and evaluated.
 The student participation in the activities must be recognized by all concerned.
 The students should have an opportunity to see high standards of patient/client care being
practiced, to enable them to prioritize their values appropriately.
Responsibilities of the nursing staff
The success of clinical experience depends on standard of patient care being practiced in clinical
area. No amount of teaching in the classroom can equal the benefit the students derive from
observing the consistent practice of good nursing.
The supervisor should be role model and he or she should shape the students for future professional
roles and in giving right direction in nursing:
 To demonstrate a high standards of patient care and to create an atmosphere encourages learning.
 To ensure that the student receives maximum learning experiences.
 To have well organized and accurate nursing record system.
 To make evaluation reports in connection with student’s clinical experience.
 To participate in orientation program of students.
 To help and assist in the guidance, supervision and evaluation of students wherever feasible:
 To participate and cooperate in clinical teaching programs through daily ward reports nursing
rounds, regular daily conference, ward clinic.
 The hold periodic joint conference with nursing faculty, concerned with student’s clinical
experience.
 To cooperate in maintaining record of practical experience.
 To assist the nursing faculty in preparation of Clinical Rotation Plan.

Responsibilities of nursing school staff

The teaching faculty is responsible to see as for as possible that the students should have adequate
theoretical background to benefit from the experience making it more meaningful.
The various responsibilities of nursing school staff are:
 Student must aware of clinical objectives of her assignments.
 To plan the course outline which enhance proper correlation between theory and practice.
 To participate in the teaching, supervision and monitoring students on the wards.
 To guide students to get required clinical experience.
 To hold conferences with group of students to discuss their assignments.
 To discuss individual patient assignments with ward sister or senior staff nurse in-charge.
 To discuss with the students about the methods of evaluating their nursing care performance or
client care performance in the area as a whole. Depending on the nature on posting the evaluation
methods and criteria may differ
 To teach students various procedure and discuss with them various disease conditions.
 To evaluate students' performance in clinical area.
BASIC PRINCIPLES IN PLANNING CLINICAL ROTATION

 The clinical rotation plan must be in accordance with the total curriculum plan.
 It must be made in advance.
 Theoretical instructions should precede closely as possible with clinical experience
simultaneously the ward teachings, case presentations, bed side clinics etc can be conducted.
 The teacher and student ratio will be 1:4 or as prescribed by INC or according to the types of
patients nursed e.g.: in critical care unit 1: 1
 Select the type of learning experience from simple to complex.
 Clinical supervisors must be familiar with the rotation plan; a copy of rotation plan should be
available in each area.
 The students should be posted where they will get maximum supervision from clinical
supervisors and qualified nursing staff
 Each student should get all the experience on rotation wise.
 Overcrowding in any clinical area should be avoided.
 Avoid overlapping of work.
 All students should enter and leave the particular clinical area at the same time and should
complete the assignments in time.
 Continuity in clinical area is needed.

CONCLUSION
Rotation plan is prepared well in advance for the whole year so that it gives complete and clear
picture about student’s placement either in theory or field during an academic session. For each year,
it can be prepared separately and or total programme one can be prepared so that every faculty will
be aware of students' placements, Thus is helps both the students and teachers to prepare themselves
for working in their consecutive areas.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Sodhi J.K. Comprehensive Textbook of Nursing Education. Jaypee Publishers; 2nd Edition,
2022. p 332-334.
2. Neeraja K.P. Textbook of Nursing Education. Jaypee Brothers Publishers; 1st Edition, 2003. p
175-181.
 CLASS PRESENTATION
ON
ROTATION PLAN

SUBMITTED TO, SUBMITTED BY,

MADAM BANANI PAL PALLABI MAJUMDAR
PROFESSOR MSc NURSING 1st YEAR
W.B.G.C.O.N. W.B.G.C.O.N.