At the School of Health Sciences on the Gippsland campus, the following general instructions apply.
In the clinical setting the student will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Reflective participation in practice is encouraged through a professional journal and group debriefing in the clinical setting.
For students of the Gippsland campus, clinical experience is obtained in a wide variety of health agencies throughout the Gippsland and Melbourne metropolitan regions.
The duration of clinical experience is two days a week for first-year students in first semester, to blocks of weeks thereafter.
Generally speaking the student's day on clinical experience commences with a 7 am start at the venue. Any variation in times for attendance at clinical or field experience will be notified in advance. Students work a seven-hour day excluding lunch.
Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each subject. Make-up for time missed will be arranged in consultation with the clinical coordinator.
During clinical placement students are expected to discuss their clinical learning needs and clarify what is required of them by the teacher and nursing staff. Students are accountable for providing safe nursing care. Students must ensure they are supervised by the clinical teacher/registered nurse for the initial performance of all new learning experiences. Consultation must take place with the clinical teacher before students undertake any care or procedure for which they are not yet theoretically prepared.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure supervision of practice. Students are supernumerary to health workers in clinical centres and on field experience. They are learners primarily in all settings. The attending students are reminded that they bear a responsibility to the people entrusted to their care. It is vital that any information the student has access to remains confidential. At all times students are responsible and accountable for their own actions.
Whilst in the clinical area students are reminded that they are guests of the agency and are expected to behave and dress in a professional manner.
Students should be aware of their legal position regarding the administration and storage of drugs. In addition, it is the policy of the campus that where drugs are required to be checked by two people prior to administration under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria), the student and supervisor (clinical teacher or registered nurse) are considered as one person.
Where a student's skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the clinical component of the subject will be denied.
At the Caroline Chisholm School of Nursing, clinical learning activities are organised to provide experimental learning for the major concepts studied. The objectives for each clinical practicum reflect those of the corresponding theoretical subjects. Clinical opportunities in a broad range of hospital and community settings will enable students to attain the objectives. The major concepts studied and skills developed in the first year of the course are expanded and extended in the second and third years to produce a competent generalist first-level practitioner.
Clinical practicum is offered to students in a combination of single day and block placements in each semester. It is undertaken in a variety of health care agencies throughout the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne. Students are responsible for all arrangements and expenses related to travel and accommodation for this clinical experience and 100 per cent attendance is mandatory. As students are supernumerary during clinical experience, supervision should be ensured.
Uniforms and accessories are required for clinical placements and students will be notified regarding purchase arrangements upon commencement.
It is required that students obtain relevant vaccinations prior to clinical placement. Arrangements regarding serological screening and vaccination will be organised on commencement. Students should be aware of the drug administration policy relevant to the particular year of study.
A student may be withdrawn from clinical praticum if required skills/knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.
At the Centre for Graduate Studies in Clinical Nursing, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton campus, students must comply with both university and hospital requirements for infectious disease management. Because students may be students at and employees of the same organisation, uniforms for both environments are required.
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