Workplace learning integrates theory with its application to the workplace. It is essential to foster safe beginning level practice and continuous career development for nurses. Learning in "real" practice situations is invaluable for nurses prior to registration, upon graduation, and furthermore in their development of specialist skills. These learning experiences in the clinical context provide students and staff the opportunity to apply working knowledge that makes sense of theory. Such experiences contribute to nurses' practices becoming meaningful therefore such knowledge is more likely to be retained and applied in subsequent clinical situations. This process for students and new graduates of applying knowledge in clinical settings is largely influenced through leadership. Leadership is instrumental in shaping the nature of the interactions with staff and the clinical experiences that become available (Kelly and Ahern, 2009).
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