OTnews July 2023 | Page 46

Student education
Nina Bedding reflects on the success of a recent simulated hospital ward week at University of Sunderland , to help occupational therapy students and apprentices with a memorable learning experience they can take forward to their first practice placements .

Student education

Feature

Building skills in preparation for practice

Nina Bedding reflects on the success of a recent simulated hospital ward week at University of Sunderland , to help occupational therapy students and apprentices with a memorable learning experience they can take forward to their first practice placements .
Below left to right : Sophie Henderson , Emma Fail , Nina Bedding , Beth Green , Havannah Fox-Storey and Victoria Stewart

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ur occupational therapy team has been working in conjunction with the Patient , Carer and Public Involvement ( PCPI ) team to simulate a hospital ward environment over five consecutive days .
Students arrived at HMH122 ( one of the university wards ) at 9am on Monday 6 February and were greeted by seven patients in beds , who had been ‘ admitted over the weekend ’. Over the course of the week , the students assessed the patients , carried out interventions , participated in multidisciplinary team meetings and responded to all eventualities on the ward , including responding to relatives ’ telephone calls and managing unexpected incidents .
Enhancing the learning journey
Beth Green , a year one occupational therapy apprentice , said : ‘ As a student completing the degree apprenticeship route , my learning journey is somewhat different to that of the other full-time students . Therefore , it was not only a fantastic experience to be immersed into a mock ward , but also to be integrated with fellow occupational therapy learners .
46 OTnews July 2023