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Wits hosts seminar on exploring different approach to nursing education
By Sibongiseni Delihlazo
Masters’ students in nursing at the Witwatersrand University’s Nursing Education Department held a seminar under the theme, A different Approach to Nursing Education, on 20 April at Wits Medical School in Parktown, Johannesburg, which looked at the alternatives means to stimulate and enhance nursing education in the 21st Century.
Nursing Educators from various Nursing Institutions, lecturers and first-year nursing students embraced the event with their presence as the use of technology to enhance nursing education was featured prominently among other alternatives.
The concept of ‘Talking heads’ as a style of lecturing the ‘Z’ Generation is old-fashioned and does not appeal to young students who are technology savvy and are well-versed with e-learning. Lecturer at Wits, Paula Barnard, said making use of technology by playing the quick one-to-two minute videos while on the bus to a practical field does wonders for students, as they can refresh their knowledge on applying techniques.
“It refreshes their memories,” she said. “Learning is about what you’re showing. The best part of learning is when getting to the point of applying it, because when you apply knowledge, you embed it more,” she explained. She added that: “Talking heads are no longer the only way, when technology be better illustrative.” Omega Replica Watches
Paula Barnard, Lecturer at Wits, emphasising the importance of using technology on nursing education
Technology platforms that the audience was encouraged to make use of for one-on-one and group interactions included Skype, Google Hangout, Twitter and Google Drive, which would enhance the learning growth of students.
While presenting on the need to remain professional in the daily interaction with patients, professional actor at 7 De Laan and former student at Wits, Zane Meas, emphasised the essence of keeping your presentation interesting as a means to an effective communication with your audience. “In your presentation, start with your beginning, the body and an ending.”
Actor at 7 De Laan, Zane Meas, presenting on the importance of keeping it tight and professional when interacting, as an effective communication tool
He also advised on putting the emotive impact, which is one way of getting your point across. “There’s a good rule in public speaking, and that it: ‘leaving them wanting more’,” he said.
Doctorate student on Simulation and lecturer at Wits, Hilary Thurling, presented on the use of technology in simulation and why its usage should not be confused and misinterpreted.
Hilary Thurling, left photo, performing a simulation on ‘Alan’, the old 80-year-old smoker
“Simulation is not about technology, it is a technique of teaching. You can do simulation without making use of R1 million technology; we used to do it on oranges. Simulation is taking a student into becoming more responsible, and it has to mimic reality,” she said. It’s simply a way to enable lecturer to perform a checklist on whether a student has done all the steps, so we can evaluate whether s/he is ready to a ward.
She performed a simulation on an ’80-year-old man, Alan’ who has been smoking for the rest of his life. Simulation is about keeping it as real as possible, she emphasised.
Key to simulation is debriefing, which is featured by the following questions:
What happened? What did you do well? What would you do differently? Do you have any knowledge gaps?
Hilary said this part is critical as students engage more on what they have gone through and once a conversation begins after a simulation, it’s a sign that the exercise went well and that there are lessons learnt.
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