September 3rd 2009
Nursing students take their training to the workplace
Diploma of Enrolled Nursing students at Pilbara TAFE are about to start another round of practical placements.
Lecturer, Amanda Williams, explains that the students perform simulated work practice in the custom-built health care facilities at TAFE and then attend 13 weeks of clinical placements at Port Hedland Hospital and other health centres around the Pilbara and in Perth.
"Next week, one group will travel to the Graylands facility in Perth to concentrate on Mental Health while the other group will attend the local hospital for Dialysis and Community Health," Amanda says.
"The beauty of hands-on training means they’ll gain an appreciation for the different streams of nursing while putting into practice some of the theory they’ve learned in class."
For student Kellie Hopes, the pracs are a chance to try out some skills while observing nursing professionals at work.
"Once you’re in a health care setting and liaising with other nurses and real patients, you realise that the hours in class and late nights are worth it!" she says. "The firsthand experiences make you a better student because the theory makes more sense once you put it into practice."
Amanda agrees that the structure of the course means that students aren’t thrown in the deep end once they join the workforce.
"Because the theory is interspersed with practical sessions, students are better prepared for employment," she says. "For example, we’ve been practicing how to perform electrocradiograms while learning about abnormal heart rhythms, how to insert naso-gastric tubes and how to dispense medication in classes which focus on drugs and IV drips."
"Once they’re on prac, they’ll be able to assist nurses in performing some of these tasks and have the foundation knowledge to know why they’re doing it."
The Diploma of Enrolled Nursing is an 18 month course and is available via face to face classes at Pilbara TAFE’s South Hedland campus or via external (flexible) delivery.
Contact 1300 244 304 for more information.
Media Contact: Kate Duff, Marketing & Communications
(08) 9159 6712
Kate.duff@pilbaratafe.wa.edu.au