Towards Increasing Interprofessional Learning

Sinead Mehigan and Marion Taylor

This session aims to: Identify what interprofessional learning is Identify why it might be needed Explore the realities of putting the theory into

practice Consider – was it worth it? And what next?

Interprofessional learning Interprofessional education occurs when

students from two or more professions learn about, from and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes

(WHO 2010)

Why? Within health and social care settings, high

profile cases have highlighted fundamental weaknesses in the ways different professions work together, to detrimental effects; Victoria Climbie 2000 Peter Connelly 2007 Mid Staffs 2005-2008

Professional body standards for pre-registration nursing – IPL is mandatory – with guidance that: Where possible programme providers should give

students opportunities to learn with, and from, other health and social care students in practice and academic settings.

IPL in practice settings Opportunities negotiated between mentors,

students and other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) for a wide range of experiences

Members of the MDT contribute to student clinical assessment documents

Many diverse opportunities Many opportunistic experiences possible – if

the student is motivated

IPL in academic settings… Slightly different

Challenges Many programmes and 500 students in total

Adult, Child, Mental Health Nursing – 3 BSc and 2 PGDip routes

Midwifery – 2 programmes Social work – BSc and MSc levels

All different timetables All nursing and midwifery cohorts streamed –

so at any one stage, half are in practice and half are in class

Creative curriculum – IP Symposia Each final year student on pre-registration

nursing, midwifery and social work programme to attend one afternoon IP Symposia event through 2013/14 year

Organizational processes Working Group formation Identification of themes and allocation to a

team to lead Identification of suitable dates across 7

programmes Securing rooms and funds for refreshments Session delivery Session evaluation

Symposia themes for 2013 Escalating concerns – Facilitated by Adult

team Substance use – Facilitated by Mental Health

team Dementia – Facilitated by Mental Health team Care issues related to asylum seekers and

refugees – Facilitated by Midwifery team Safeguarding – Facilitated by Mental Health

team

Organizational Issues Facilitation of symposia – preparation and

expectations Agreeing dates Booking lecture theatre and enough break-out

rooms Student allocation to one session Communication – students, staff, pre-session

materials Last-minute changes to students attending No-shows Lost in transit!

Benefits? Evaluations from invited speakers and

students very positive In the main, students enjoyed having the

opportunity to work with students from other disciplines

Requests for more sessions Requests to be able to work with a wider

range of healthcare professionals Refreshments welcomed – but Fridays not

such a good day!

Thank-you for listening!

Any questions?