Changes: the Delphi technique adapted for classroom evaluation of clinical placements.

Too frequently during the post-allocation evaluation of clinical areas, some student psychiatric nurses displayed varying degrees of negativism towards or lack of involvement with the clinical area. The design of a classroom exercise 'Changes' was an attempt to overcome these undesirable features. The exercise was an adaptation of the Delphi technique and involved the student nurses in identifying changes that they would wish to make if returning to the clinical areas. Some simple manipulation of the ideas generated allowed a group consensus to be achieved. On closer inspection an additional interesting aspect of the suggestions was the large proportion of desirable changes that could be achieved with no financial implications. Alternatively changes in attitudes or work practices were implicated. Having achieved the original intention and moreover, generated suggestions for potential improvements it was decided to retain and repeat the exercise with future groups of student nurses. A similar pattern was obtained. Finally, the results were presented to representatives of the clinical areas and the technique along with facilitation time, offered to and accepted by ward managers as a means of quickly identifying ward team priorities, and generating ideas for improving their areas.