Students as "patients"
A good way to check the "real world" skills students is to pair them up with another student for role playing. One student plays the role of patient while the other is the hygienist. The "patient" can ask a question and the hygiene student can demonstrate their knowledge (and communicative skills) by answering the patient's question(s). This gives the students a feel of what they'll do once they're working in a practice.
An other way to check for real world skills is to test competencies through a simulated event. For example, I test several skills in a CPR scenario. The students are placed in a situation with a high fidelity mannequin and are required to respond and apply the appropriate nursing interventions.
I also test students with the hands on approach. they must practice, practice, practice and then they a graded on them. I also set my class room up as a doctors office.
I work with students in a hospital so i get to see them with their pts. I also remind them that this is where they can use everything together. Knowledge from the class along with everyday life. I stand back and watch and when they finish that is when we sit back and go over what they did and why, most time the student will tell me right away "I did this wrong, and next time i will make sure to do it this way". That make me know they already see some mistake and can correct them before moving on. On the other hand they will ask questions on why and what to understand why we are doing this treatment with this pt because they are still unclear.
Hi Bethany , Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, application assessment is often a very valuable tool! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I really enjoy setting up mock proceedures and scenarios for the students to get involved in. I find they retain this information much better
Role play is good way to practice, students can take turns to be a nurse or patient.
Teaching medical assisting my students set up a mock office. We have 2 students who are the receptionists, 3 students who are the medical assistants and 2 students who are the check out staff. The rest of the class are the patients with various complaints. This gives the entire class a chance to see how a medical office runs on a daily basis. The students' take turns with each role so they become familiar with the duties. It also gives them a chance to react to patients' who may not be in the best of moods, or non compliant. The students' enjoy this mock office very much, and they learn quite a bit about each role.
Hi Cynthia, Students do learn a lot through role play and it seems to improve retention as well.
Susan Polick
I enjoy that as well. I find that the interaction of the students makes it enjoyable for the students and they seem to learn faster that way too.
Using students as "patients" really helps out the other students for me, as well. In the dental field, it helps when students practice on each other and especially when they role play.
