Sydney Nursing School hosts mass casualty simulation

One hundred thirty-six Bachelor of Nursing students took part in a mass casualty simulation event recently.
Held at Sydney Nursing School’s Mallett Street Campus, the simulation is an interprofessional event that’s the culmination of the First-Line Interventions unit of study compulsory for all Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies) students.

Playing the role of both nurse and patient, students took part in two scenarios: a fire that has broken out in a hospital ward in which patients and staff members have been injured, and a 21st birthday party where the roof of the hall has collapsed and injured the party-goers.
Jane Currie, Unit Coordinator and Lecturer in Nursing at Sydney Nursing School, said students are completely immersed in the experience. “Students not only perform the role of nurse on the day, but also experience what it’s like to be a casualty.”
Some of the many symptoms students have to treat include seizures, burns, smoke inhalation, traumatic head injuries, and fractured bones.
Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies) student Casey Baldock spoke about how the experience will be greatly beneficial when working as a registered nurse. “You can only learn so much in the clinical labs. Being really immersed in the scenario and working with real people with real symptoms reiterates what we’ve learnt and consolidates our clinical skills.”
The unit aims to provide student nurses with the skills and knowledge for them to participate in the care of patients in the out of hospital environment.
“The idea of it is to both embed and consolidate clinical skills and non-clinical skills such as teamwork, leadership and communication,” said Ms Currie.
Coming together to share their knowledge with the students were a team of paramedics, medical practitioners, nurses and second-year medical students. “This is the best possible practice the nursing students can do before they go into the workplace,” said Ms Currie.
Four doctors from Bankstown Hospital also joined in the simulation to facilitate and provide support and guidance to the nursing students.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for nursing students to be involved in these type of disaster scenarios so that they are prepared in how to manage real-life emergency situations,” said Dr Lai Heng Foong, Emergency Department Staff Specialist from Bankstown Hospital.
This is the third year the simulation has been running at Sydney Nursing School, growing from 57 students in 2014.

Sydney Nursing School

Sydney Nursing School  has been ranked number one in Australia for research and educational excellence in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject. Globally, a ranking of 13th was achieved, ahead of Yale and Columbia universities.
Program: Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies)
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
Semester intake: March
Duration: 3 years
Application deadline: Candidates are encouraged to apply a minimum of three months prior to the program start date.
Entry requirements: Applicants must satisfy the university’s English language requirements for admission and have a high school diploma with at least a 66% average.

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Find out more about the programs offered at Sydney Nursing School! Contact OzTREKK’s Australian Nursing Schools Admissions Officer Adam Smith at adam@oztrekk.com.