eHealth nursing education
About this good practice
Telemedicine and telehealth are growing rapidly in healthcare. It is important that future nurses learn how to use telehealth technologies during their studies.
There should be an ongoing dialogue between healthcare practitioners and educational organisations on changes in the work of nurses. The introduction of technology is a major change in healthcare to which education must respond. It is important for institutions to have similar technology and peripheral equipment that future nurses will use in their work.
Through this new approach, healthcare providers, educational institutions and technical support staff will create better opportunities for future carers to use technology in their work.
Students put their learning into practice in simulated real-life environments. Students establish a remote video connection and play different roles in exercises. For example, in an outpatient clinic of an on-call nurse, students act as nurses, patients and teachers take on the role of a doctor. The exercise is supported by various technological devices such as an ear camera, a universal camera, an electronic microscope as a web camera, a saturation meter, a PEF meter, etc.. A simulated examination situation will be carried out as closely as possible to the real situation and finally a remote consultation with the doctor will take place.
Resources needed
The estimated cost of the equipment needed for the trial was around €5000. In the future, it is planned to extend the package to different systems with a much higher cost estimate.
Evidence of success
The universities of applied sciences have been assigned the mission of creating and developing attractive learning, research, and innovation environments, which also meet the needs of professionals in practice.
Feedback gathered from students after training scenarios involving remote consultation with eHealth technology has been very positive. The feedback highlights interest in practical learning of the usage of eHealth technology in nurse studies.
Potential for learning or transfer
Bringing technology into education is important in healthcare, where traditionally there has been a somewhat cautious approach to technology. For young social and health care students, teaching technology early on improves attitudes towards technology and contributes valuable insights to their future healthcare organisations, catalysing better and more efficient healthcare in the future.
Good practice owner
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