HEALTH students in the Warrnambool region are to be given important training with the support of education simulation trainer Chris Healey. Mr Healey is employed to deliver a new simulation-based training program and will focus on mental health education for local medical and nursing students. He is one of 14 clinical simulation educators who have started in south-west Victoria and regional South Australia. The program, developed by the Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health and funded by Health Workforce Australia, as an Australian Government initiative, gives students the opportunity to practice fundamental skills and learn from life-like training scenarios. Mr Healey, a registered nurse and mental health practitioner for 33 years, said that the mental health training would be invaluable for students. “One in five people have mental health issues. Developing skills and knowledge of how to talk and interact appropriately with people with mental health issues is so important.” In 2014, 24 medical students will participate in seven workshops during their mental health rotation and 48 nursing students will also participate as part of their clinical training. The use of simulation based education is developing rapidly as a safe learning environment utilising simulated patients and mannequins for general nurses and medical staff. The program in Warrnambool is specialising in mental health issues and also targets other health related professions. For example, using trained simulated patients for pharmacy students to enact a ‘Medscheck’ with a patient with mental health issues.
Posted on: Fri, 02 May 2014 05:54:07 +0000
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