Programs in Allied Health Careers at NorQuest College include Physical Therapy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Therapeutic Recreation and Mental Health Rehabilitation. Students from all four programs have taken part in the first interdisciplinary simulation scenarios based on communication with clients. These students meet the high fidelity mannequins as they interview them in community settings such as a homeless shelter and a day hospital to establish a social history. Other interdisciplinary activities are in development. The simulation centre has also hosted students for remediation, internationally educated nurses, Advanced Orthopedics for the LPN, Unit Clerks, and post-graduate continuing education students in simulated clinical scenarios. Sometimes putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is what it takes to realize what works and what needs to change. All simulations take place behind a one-way glass and are recorded to a DVD. Students watch each other during their rehearsal and then review the DVD to discuss and reflect on the events of the simulation. Student responses to their simulated clinical experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. Instructors are witnessing behaviour changes in students and the impact of simulation with repeated return to discussion. Opportunities for research within NorQuest College are in discussion and interagency opportunities for collaboration are in place. NorQuest College is an active member of an Interdisciplinary Health Education Partnership (IHEP) with NAIT, MacEwan, and the University of Alberta. This group is breaking ground in interdisciplinary education and simulation including research, collaboration in the development of scenarios, evaluation, faculty development and opportunities for all members to learn. These scenarios will be piloted by interdisciplinary instructor and student teams representing all member institutions in the spring of 2010.
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TAKE HEED New Legislation proclamation April 1, 2010
Gunshot and Stab Wound Mandatory Disclosure Act (Bill 46) This new legislation requires healthcare facilities and emergency medical technicians to report all gunshot wounds and defined stab wounds to the police. It supports the Government of Alberta’s goal of promoting safe communities. The legislation is intended to reduce the risks posed to public safety in general and health care professionals in particular by enabling police to take immediate steps to initiate an investigation leading to the prevention of further violence, injury or death, when an individual enters a health facility with a gunshot or stab wound. Health care professions will not have to make the determination of a gunshot wound being criminal in nature as all gunshots will be reported. The legislation also gives health care practitioners clarity regarding disclosure by clearly laying out the responsibilities and expectations of health practitioners and police. Minimal disclosure of patient information is sought, limited to registration information and not treatment or diagnostic. For more information view the new Act at www.qp.alberta.ca/Laws_Online.cfm
In 2008, NorQuest’s Interdisciplinary Simulation Centre invited interest in a provincial interdisciplinary lab educators group. There was tremendous response indicating great interest in meeting to discuss approaches to skills and simulation labs. This Lab Educators of Alberta group meets regularly and is collaborating on a website and other means to share information. Ultimately, our goals in NorQuest’s Interdisciplinary Simulation Centre include offering intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary simulations for the NQC health careers programs, for students of programs external to NQC with NQC students, and for post-graduate health-care providers seeking competency or clinical updates. Interdisciplinary simulation provides the members of the health-care team the opportunity to ‘orchestrate’ teamwork in client circumstances. n Green, A. Holloway, D. (1997) Using a phenomenological research technique to examine student nurses’ understandings of experiential teaching and learning: a critical review of methodological issues. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(5), 1013-1019. Retrieved from ebscohost.com October 22, 2009. Harder, B. Nicole. (2009, September) Evolution of Simulation Use in Health Care Education. Clinical Simulation in Nursing. 5(5), pages e169-e172 Retrieved October 21, 2009. Paige, J. B. Daley, B.J. (2009, May). Situated Cognition: A learning framework to support and guide high-fidelity simulation. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, (5(3), pages e97-e103. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
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care | SPRING 2010
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