Students across a range of disciplines from Robert Gordon University (RGU) and the University of Aberdeen recently took part in interprofessional learning sessions to understand the importance of working together on professional values.
Around 1000 first year students from 10 different health and social care professions, including radiography, took part in the sessions, designed to introduce students to other health and social care professions and to foster a multi-disciplinary approach for their future careers.
Students were asked to create a team where at least six professions were represented and create a Facebook group, where learning can be shared and communication encouraged.
Students were also asked to determine the professional values they already share and the ones they don’t.
The sessions demonstrated the importance of understanding and tolerance when it comes to caring for and treating members of the public.
One of the exercises of the day involved showing the students a dramatization of a scenario inside a GP surgery.
Students witnessed the arrival of a lady, who was drunk, swearing and shouting, demanding to be seen.
In the video she becomes increasingly loud and eventually storms off, distressed and crying having never been seen by the GP. In her hurry to leave, she drops a piece of paper, which is revealed to be the order of service from her daughter’s funeral.
The exercise is designed to show the importance of having an open mind and empathetic approach when working in health and social care.
Laura Chalmers, Lecturer from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and of the School of Health Sciences, said: “Interprofessional Learning is becoming increasingly important across health and social care sectors and these sessions bring together undergraduate students to learn from and about each other throughout their degrees.
“The overt aim is that we can ensure tomorrow’s workforce will have a greater mutual respect for each other’s skills and expertise and will be able to work together for the benefit of the patient.”