Helping medical students become good house officers: interprofessional learning in a skills centre

Abstract

A report is presented on interprofessional study days for final-year medical students and junior staff nurses, providing valuable preparation for transition to the role of house officer. Guided by a view of shared learning as learning with and from members of another profession, a patient scenario pertinent to the nurses' ward experience was presented and developed. Participants planned and revised their responses to the patient's needs, practising pertinent clinical and communication skills at each stage. Students were challenged to integrate existing knowledge in the context of whole-patient care, and were able to clarify roles and responsibilities within the multidisciplinary team. They discussed ward management and patient management. The curriculum design and evaluation were guided by educational theories relating to readiness to learn and disjuncture. Nurse-medical student pairs, to teach each other practical skills and exchange information, were particularly highly valued. Siting the learning experience in a clinical skills laboratory was very successful.