An orthopaedic workshop and skills laboratory

Planning and implementing care for patients with musculoskeletal disorders can be intimidating for nursing students. Moreover, changes in health care delivery often limit the opportunities students will have to learn skills and participate in the care of a patient in need of these services. This article describes the development of an orthopaedic workshop and skills laboratory which provides hands-on learning experience in a nonthreatening environment. The teaching strategy uses the collaborative resources of health care providers, allowing the student to be introduced to the care of orthopaedic patients from admission to discharge.