Box Hill Institute of TAFE and the Nursing Skills Centre of Excellence

A new benchmark in clinical skills training has been set by the Nursing Skills Centre of Excellence (NSCE) at Box Hill Institute, following the introduction of highly realistic patient simulators which can be programmed for a variety of medical and emergency scenarios.

While simulator training does not replace actual clinical placement, it better prepares students for medical emergencies and supports their future training needs, according to Kerry Kirk, Centre Manager of Health and Community Services at Box Hill Institute.

The eight adult and infant simulators have a high degree of functionality, and can mimic a large number of vital signs from respiratory failure and cardiac arrest to pupil dilation and perspiration. They can also be programmed for procedures such as intravenous treatment.

"Simulation provides students with a whole variety of situations they may not experience during standard placements. It’s completely safe and the training can be repeated, so students can address their mistakes, develop their confidence and gain much greater expertise," Ms Kirk said.

With this latest innovative advance in patient simulation technology the NSCE will enable Box Hill Institute to train new nurses as well as retrain nurses returning to the workforce. The use of mannequins also assists in overcoming a major current shortage of placements for required clinical experience.

The vision and concept for the NSCE, a simulation and clinical skills centre designed to provide best practice learning and research opportunities, was developed by an industry partnership comprising Box Hill Institute, the Epworth Group, Eastern Health and Deakin University. Through this collaborative partnership, each organisation has been able to create benefits for their students, employees and teaching staff.

The Institute works closely with the university sector and has an agreement with Deakin University to enable students to articulate from TAFE training to enter tertiary degree courses at the end of their first year of training. Both the Epworth Group and Eastern Health are able to access the training facilities in the simulation centre, and simulation programs available for their own staff. The Epworth Group also supports Box Hill Institute’s students through an annual scholarship program available to Division 2, nursing students.

The partners work closely to support student clinical placements and to maximize access to job opportunities for Box Hill graduates within the health organisations.

The NSCE will have far-reaching impacts on medical training in Victoria, as the simulators can be used to enhance specific skill sets of qualified nurses, and in anaesthesia, paediatrics and midwifery. The Institute is currently developing a Vocational Graduate Certificate in Simulation Education as well as planning for mobile training to be delivered to rural and remote areas.

More TAFE industry partnerships.