A new e-learning hospital specially designed for students enrolled in The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Diploma of Nursing program was launched at the Broome Campus on May 13.
The Maryanne Martin Hospital was developed by the School of Nursing and Midwifery on the Broome Campus in collaboration with eLearn Australia – an independent e-learning provider.
The hospital offers a case-study based program on the theory and practice of a nursing environment which can be accessed by nursing students living in regional and remote areas of Western Australia.
Students also travel to the Broome Campus for clinical skills teaching and assessment during block week each semester – a period where students can apply their knowledge of nursing theory in a practical environment.
The program is accessible to users around the clock and allows students, who may be juggling additional study and family commitments, to work at their own pace.
The Hospital provides Diploma of Nursing students with a comprehensive nursing training experience, complete with evidenced based practice, online resources and links, workbooks, dynamic interaction, and assessments.
This is in addition to receiving first-hand knowledge using the web-based classroom two mornings a week provided by academics on the Broome Campus.
The Maryanne Martin Hospital is named after the first Aboriginal registered nurse/midwife in the Kimberley region of WA.
Maryanne Martin has devoted her life to working as an emergency relief nurse in several regional communities in WA.
Sally Clark, the Assistant Dean in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Broome Campus, said the Maryanne Martin Hospital will provide an alternative pathway for Aboriginal health workers to enhance their skills and knowledge in the Diploma of Nursing program.
“This program provides students with a fresh approach to learning through an interactive toolbox of 23 units of competency for Nursing students,” Mrs Clark said.
“Enrolled nurses who require further proficiency in medication or intravenous therapy will be able to complete the necessary units in the Hospital, increasing their scope of practice and opportunities for employment.
“They also meet other Nursing students and educators in our web-based classroom as well as spending time in the clinical laboratory on Campus to practice their skills.”
Course Coordinator Sr Jennifer Farrell SGS, said the Hospital aims to assist Aboriginal students through the Diploma of Nursing program, into a Bachelor of Nursing course, and onto a medical degree if that is their choice of career.