By Luke D’Anello
NURSING students at Victoria University’s St Albans campus are honing their skills on volunteer actors to prepare them for a career in the field.
In addition to the use of mannequins, the method allows students to engage with a “real” patient, who acts to instructions from academic nursing staff through an earpiece.
While there are only two actors taking part in the program at VU currently, staff members are also being used.
The use of actors fits into a simulated approach to learning, where the goal is to maximise what a student can learn in a safe environment and in a scenario that mirrors a real-life situation.
“Nursing is a hands’on profession and it’s a way of getting them to be comfortable with that direct contact with people,” technical officer in the university’s school of nursing and midwifery Maryanne Craker said.
The interaction between the nurse and actor is video and audio recorded, which allows students in smaller groups to examine what occurred to extend their learning further.
The nursing laboratory at VU also resembles a hospital ward.
“The labs look just the same as if you were working in a ward,” Ron Craker, who is one of the actors, said.
“We can ask questions (to the nurse) to help them get a better idea of what they’re in for in the hospital environment.
“It is a team effort, between them, to work among themselves and work out what the best thing to do is.”
This approach to learning, which was introduced last year, is highly regarded by the students at VU, according to Ms Craker, as it prepares them for life with patients and builds their confidence.
“Simulated learning is fairly new for the country,” she said.
“It’s brought the human face to learning on campus. The students’ reactions (to patients) are what you’d see in the clinical setting.”
Before VU decided to adopt this approach to learning, it spoke to people and organisations already practicing the method to help guide the decision-making process.
The program is being undertaken by first year and second year students at VU.
