Lesley Baillie and colleagues explore students’ experiences during practice placements as part of their university course

Background Nursing students often care for older people with dementia during placements. The quality of the students’ experience is important.

Aim To explore adult nursing students’ experiences of caring for older people with dementia in hospital.

Method Four focus groups were conducted at one English university. The data were analysed thematically and this article presents the challenges that students experienced.

Findings The hospital’s physical environment and organisational culture, deficits in the knowledge and skills of staff and students, and negative staff attitudes led to students struggling to provide care.

Conclusion More dementia-friendly hospital environments and better educated staff will enhance students’ learning experiences. Nursing students require early preparation for caring for older people with dementia.