LEWISBURG, W.Va. — WVU School of Nursing Beckley Campus seniors recently attended the Spring IPE (interprofessional education) day at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine to gain practice in working with other healthcare professionals.
Mindy Harris, assistant professor, has been coordinating the experience for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) seniors since 2018, even during the COVID-19 pandemic when the event was held virtually.
“The IPE is an excellent learning opportunity for all students and offers a safe environment for nursing students and medical students to act autonomously, practice interdisciplinary communication, make decisions and work through various IPE cases together throughout the day,” Harris said.
The event is a priority each year for her, as she sees the confidence the students gain from participating.
“They leave the event with a sense of accomplishment knowing they are ready to enter the profession and are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful,” Harris said.
In addition to the Beckley Campus nursing students, this year’s event welcomed nursing students from Mountain Gateway Community College in Clifton Forge, Virginia, and the second-year medical students from WVSOM.
Students were assigned into groups, which rotated through four simulation cases, breast cancer with a standardized patient; bipolar depression with a standardized patient; respiratory distress related to anaphylaxis with a high-fidelity manikin; and post-partum hemorrhage with a standardized patient.
“Generally, at the beginning of the day the students are a bit nervous,” Harris said. “However, at the end of the day, the students express how participating in the event actually bolsters their confidence and helps them trust what they know.
"I believe the most important take away for the nursing students and the medical students is to understand that open, clear communication between disciplines is essential, and even lifesaving, for patients.”
Faculty members, including Peggy Fink, Cynthia Clark, Engleish Flynn and Campus Chair Hillary Parcell attended this year’s event.
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CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu