e-Professionalism and ePortfolios – are they compatible within the undergraduate nursing curriculum?: Presenter(s): Nuala Devlin, Queens Univeristy Belfast, United Kingdom

The urgency to move learning online due to the Covid-19 pandemic saw a stampede by educators to identify suitable platforms. While most of this theoretical learning could be facilitated one crucial aspect of the undergraduate nursing curriculum proved much more problematic, that of how evidence is captured in practice. ePortfolios pedagogy is perfectly placed to foster this learning. However tacit knowledge particularly around professionalism in practice can be open to interpretation. It is noted in the literature that e-professionalism in the context of ePortfolios requires further exploration. BACKGROUND: An ambitious project to implement a regionally agreed electronic practice assessment document (commonly known as an ePortfolio) for undergraduate nursing, across five health and social care trusts and three Approved Education Institutions (AEI) commenced in January 2021. METHODS: A Logic Model was used in one Approved Education Institution to implement the ePortfolio. Weekly evaluation with students (online) across all fields of practice, captured feedback in real time while on clinical practice. FINDINGS: Initial evaluation of the data would suggest that students do not fully understand the relationship between e-professionalism and ePortfolios. DISCUSSION: Advances in how evidence is captured and communicated is ever evolving and the integration of ePortfolios is fundamental to that discussion. Reflection can deepen understanding of learning and lines of inquiry which are fundamental to the professional. The introspection that it requires means that it can be challenging to evaluate in objective terms. In this emerging field e-professionalism requires further exploration, including how universities communicate and support students within this forum. The long-term goal is to yield reflective and competent practitioners who have access to and an understanding of digital platforms and digital literacy.