Learning clinical skills: an interprofessional approach

The professions of nursing and medicine are committed to interprofessional education, in the belief that through this, patient care and satisfaction will be improved. Most initiatives involving nurses have been at post-qualification level, in primary health care, and concerning interpersonal or information management skills. Much of this collaboration has been with professions allied to medicine or social services. This paper discusses an innovative programme of shared learning in acute care, involving final year medical students and newly qualified staff nurses. The programme, developed in response to the blurring of professional roles between nurses and junior doctors, took place in our interprofessional Clinical Skills Centre. It was based around a developing patient scenario which was pertinent to the participants' area of practice. Each session was led by an experienced nurse lecturer and doctor, supported by specialist contributors. The style of learning was participative, with small interprofessional groups addressing a range of patient management issues. In this way, relevant clinical and communication skills were integrated within the context of holistic patient care. The course was well evaluated by both professional groups of participants and their managers. Subsequent research and curriculum development are leading to the expansion of this successful initiative.