It’s All About Practice
Written by Amber Manini
Sarah Smith is a 2014 - 2015 ALEX 'Applied Learning Experiences Excellence in Teaching Award' winner. This article provides insights into the efforts she takes to provide real world learning experiences for her students.
“Practice makes perfect” they say. No one ever became great overnight. For some of us learning to tie our shoes took years to do on our own. For others of us tying our shoes was simple and we learned in four to five days. We have all experienced doctor visits where sometimes the nurse who gave us our shot or insert our IV made it hurt way more than others who have given us shots before. Like tying our shoes, nursing and the skills needed to put an IV or administer shots takes both skill and practice.
University of Hawaii at Hilo School of Nursing Baccalaureate Nursing Program offers Junior and Senior nursing students the opportunity to receive class credit while taking part in a required amount of clinical hours at a local site in Hilo. To assist both our Junior and Senior nursing students in scheduling and completing their acute care adult health clinicals is Dr. Sarah Smith.
Dr. Sarah Smith
Dr. Smith not only assists students with their clinicals however she also provides nursing students with guest speakers who have expertise in different nursing areas helping to provide the students with a smoother transition into their practical experience as a nurse.
“In my opinion, our clinical component is the best part of nursing school. The students get to feel what it is like to be a nurse. Additionally they can immediately apply the concepts they are learning in the classroom and they can bring their own clinical experience back into the classroom as well,” said Dr. Smith.
Junior standing students take part in performing one day of adult health clinicals per week while the senior standing students take part in performing clinicals two times a week. While spending time at a local hospital students get a hands on experience dealing with patients. Students also have specific lab courses that are required for the four semesters they are in the Baccalaureate Nursing Program. During these lab hours they will also perform clinical practice in the hospital or Hilo community.
This semester Dr. Smith says the students have a seven and a half credit lab this results in the students going to the hospital fifteen hours a week for the whole semester to care for patients. This requirement is in addition to the one or two day of adult health clinicals required weekly. Students have the opportunity to visit all of the clinical sites the nursing program provides. In some instances they are allowed to choose their sites and most times the nursing program staff try their best to accommodate their requests.
Student in the nursing program, Frans Sy speaks of his experience in the nursing program having Dr. Smith as a instructor. “She recruited real world learning experiences during our orientation. For example, she invited the representatives from "CathFlo" and "Lovenox" on campus to educate us about their administration. In addition, she invited the PICC Line Nurse from HMC to present information regarding stroke and heart attack. Furthermore, she invited an ICU nurse to discuss central line care and how to use the infusion pump. She also invited an OB nurse to demonstrate use the the PCA pump. Dr. Smith has gone above and beyond traditional classroom teaching strategies in her tireless efforts to prepare us for the nursing profession,” said Sy.
Practice does make perfect in UH Hilo’s Nursing Program. Through practical experience and clinical hours the nursing students only get better at doing the various tasks they will eventually perform as professional nurses. As Dr. Smith says, “Nursing students save lives and stamp out disease one clinical day at a time.”
For more information on the UH Hilo Nursing Program you may contact the nursing department at (808) 932-7067.
