Mask crusaders keen on authentic learning
Published on 16 February, 2009
Researchers from Rockhampton and Newcastle are collaborating to show that clinical educators using realistic masks can provide excellent simulated experiences for students of nursing, medicine and pharmacology.
Even though mannikins can now include feedback signals, a clinical educator wearing a variety of masks can provide realistic feedback across a range of patient types.
CQUniversity's Dr Kerry Reid-Searl has pioneered the use of masks to teach students about patient responses.
She is now collaborating with Dr Helen Bellchambers and Dr Tracy Levett-Jones from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Newcastle.
They are progressing an application for Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) project funding and are planning a variety of overseas conference presentations, with help from University video producer Colette Le Page.
Dr Bellchambers specialises in quality administration of medicines and Dr Levett-Jones in clinical reasoning, so their areas of expertise complement the masks-for-teaching push.
"We all want beginning practitioners to be safer and more effective," Dr Levett-Jones said.
"This reduces the risk of medication misadventure."