Nursing students are gaining added experience of working in specialist areas after a new training programme was set up.
The virtual training at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is giving students extra skills and knowledge in clinical settings including critical care, emergency care, operating theatres and community.
It has been set up for students from Teesside University, Sunderland University and the Open University who have placements at the organisation.
Jean Angus, is head of nursing education and placements. She said: “Historically, practice placements in setting such as critical care, emergency care and community are in high demand. A rising number of nursing students are recruited to these placements to match future workforce requirements. Students are allocated to placements of six to 12 weeks in these areas, often with cohorts sometimes overlapping.
“These areas are very different from most ward placements that student nurses become familiar with. And they require an intense induction and orientation to increase a student’s learning and confidence.
“The programme includes an induction and orientation to these areas including the use of virtual training, discussion groups, group activities and workbooks for assessment purposes. Scenario based learning activities in the Trust’s simulation suite provided knowledge and skills essential to critical care nursing.”
Working closely with clinical staff, the induction and scenarios will help enhance the placements, increase students’ knowledge and skills and reduce the demands of experienced staff in these areas.
Next phase
The next phase of the pilot is to provide a virtual placement for emergency care, community and operating theatres.
Jean added: “We could not have delivered this pilot without the expertise of our clinical staff and the simulation suite team, who delivered an excellent programme which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.”
In future, is it hoped the programme will be extended to include other professions such as:
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Dietetics
- Podiatry