Enthusiastic secondary students enjoy medicine and nursing experience
Coomealla High School Students, from left, Matthew Mathieson, Bailey Catterton, Lauren Fraser, Sophie Stephens, Rhianna Duncan, Holly Lush, Abbey Henderson, Beth Darby, Shanae Tilley, Mikaela Fraser, Emily Smith, Dylan Watson and Shae McDonnell. They all had great fun working with mannequin SimMan3G.
Coomealla High School Students, keen on nursing, from left Megan Clothier, Beth Darby, Shae McDonnell and Nikita Dalzell. All enjoyed working with one of the school's mannequins, SimNewB.
In collaboration with Broken Hill University’s Department of Rural Health, Mildura Regional Clinical School facilitated two Academy Days late last year for 30 students enthusiastic about pursuing a career in Medicine or Nursing.
The clinically-practical and action-packed days were a huge success as the students, from Coomealla High School in Dareton NSW, enjoyed demonstrations of current medical skills and thrived on the multitude of hands-on experiences.
On Day One, the Medicine Academy started with a tour of the Mildura Base Hospital followed by a hands-on tour of the Mildura Skills Lab, which features more than 30 high fidelity and part task training mannequins as teaching resources.
The students were soon challenged by an update of their Basic Life Support Skills under the eagle eye of Educator/Lecturer Howard Cook and Monash student Travis Taggert. The sponsored lunch was most entertaining with the inclusion of a few light hearted quizzes.
For the afternoon session, students divided into groups and alternated at two clinical stations.
The first station involved the students participating in a simulated scenario using high fidelity mannequin, SimMan3G, simulating a patient who had sustained a head injury. The students received the same state of the art teaching experience as any medical student, using the latest in simulation technology equipment.
Meanwhile the other group members were ‘up to their armpits’ in plaster, learning from a Year 3 student about current plastering techniques.
The students were thrilled to be involved in both of these simulations and couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces! Most wished they could take home their plaster as a souvenir.
The afternoon was closed off with some spot prizes and a cold drink before the students boarded their bus back to school.
On day two students involved in the Nursing Academy Day arrived at Mildura Regional Clinical School after lunch and were also given a tour of the Skills Centre before dividing into groups of four.
The stations began with a newborn assessment with Educator/Lecturer Howard Cook and Simulation Technician Kristy Allen, using the newly-acquired high fidelity mannequin SimNewB.
The students were all overwhelmed by the realism of the newborn simulator and were ecstatic to have been given the opportunity to touch and care for her in her first few minutes of life outside the womb.
Meanwhile at station two, medical student Travis Taggert mentored the students on the wound closure methods of suturing and stapling. Each student had their own equipment and absorbed the skills involved in these techniques.
At Station Three, pairs of students took part in a disability session supervised by Jenny Timmis and Kate Murdoch. One partner in each pair was blindfolded with their partner responsible for leading the blind person around an obstacle course with clear instruction.
Station Four was run by Year 3 student, Emma Sturm, giving students hands-on experience in simulated ear examination, again using a teaching mannequin.
The nursing day was also a huge success and capped off with spot prizes, a take home bag of info detailing career advice for rural students considering a career in Medicine or Nursing and a nice cold drink before the students boarded their bus back to school.