Power of Peer-Assisted Learning: An Interdisciplinary Mobility Laboratory Experience

Area of Science:

• Interprofessional Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Patient Mobility Training

Background:

• Early patient mobility is crucial in hospital settings.
• This study introduces a peer-assisted learning (PAL) mobility laboratory.
• Physical therapy (PT) students trained nursing students in patient mobility.

Observation:

• Students were organized into 10 groups, each with six nursing and three PT students.
• Groups rotated through 10 mobility stations every 20 minutes.
• Nursing students applied learned skills to a case scenario post-rotation.

Findings:

• Nursing students showed significant improvement in safe patient mobility knowledge.
• Confidence in instructing safe patient mobility increased among nursing students.
• Both student groups found the PAL strategy successful.

Implications:

• PAL effectively enhances interprofessional understanding between PT and nursing students.
• This model can improve collaborative patient care and mobility outcomes.
• The laboratory setting facilitated practical skill acquisition and knowledge transfer.