Developing Inter-Professional Education Initiatives to Aid Working and Learning Between Veterinarians and Veterinary...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Education
• Inter-professional Collaboration

Background:

• The veterinary workplace relies on inter-professional teams, including veterinarians and veterinary nurses/technicians.
• Effective teamwork benefits multiple stakeholders in veterinary practice.
• Previous research highlights the advantages of strong inter-professional collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline educational theories and practical tips for developing inter-professional teaching in veterinary programs.
• To foster students' appreciation for the distinct roles and responsibilities within veterinary teams.
• To address potential misunderstandings and clarify overlapping roles between veterinary professionals.

Main Methods:

• Implementing inter-professional education (IPE) where students learn with, about, and from each other.
• Utilizing social learning principles to enhance understanding of different professional motivations and practices.
• Providing opportunities for students to explore complex teamwork scenarios in a safe environment using real-life veterinary topics.
• Presenting two case examples from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC): dentistry and directed learning scenarios.

Main Results:

• IPE initiatives at RVC successfully integrated clinical and professional learning.
• The development of an RVC IPE team and a student-led IPE club demonstrated effective student-teacher partnerships.
• Students gained a clearer understanding of inter-professional roles and responsibilities through collaborative learning experiences.

Conclusions:

• Inter-professional education is a valuable pedagogical approach for veterinary training.
• Despite challenges, IPE effectively integrates clinical and professional aspects of the curriculum.
• Fostering inter-professional collaboration prepares students for the realities of modern veterinary practice.