“ A student who is well prepared as to what to expect from a rural clinical placement, including a clear understanding of the placement goals and learning outcomes, is more likely to achieve a positive result”
(Nancarrow, Moran, Lowe & Keane , 2013, p17).
Preparation of students
It is important to adequately prepare a student for a rural and remote placement and this preparation should begin before the student leaves home.
In this video, we hear from final year student Natascha Molderings who identifies the resources and supports she found most valuable while she was on a rural and remote placement
Student knowledge base
There may be specific topics that you would like the student to read prior to coming to placement. Make the student aware of these topics prior to placement so they can prepare.
The National Rural Health Alliance has published a number of fact sheets about issues relating to health and living in rural and remote areas (e.g. Eye and Vision in Rural Australia, Rural Schooling, Physical Activity in Rural Australia). The fact sheets are two pages long, easy to read and will help your student consider the issue in a rural context.
The Rural Health Education Foundation is an independent, not for profit organisation that delivers free health care education for healthcare teams in rural and remote areas. The website has a number of resources that the student can watch online, free DVDs that you can order (e.g. All Ears: Healthy Hearing in Indigenous Communities), and ‘learning guides’ that accompany some of the programs.
In a rural or remote clinical placement, it is possible that students will provide health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is important that the student is culturally competent and understanding of cultural safety. For further information, please refer to the Student preparation and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Practice Contexts.
The Three Rivers Department of Rural Health (Charles Sturt University) also provides an online learning modules for students who are going on a rural and remote placement: Rural Clinical Placements – Your journey starts here
References:
Please Note: References remain valid until superseded by later research. The resources referenced here are regularly reviewed and are considered current and relevant to the topics presented.
Health Education and Training Institute (2013), Models of Excellence: Clinical Training in Regional, Rural and Remote NSW, (www.heti.nsw.gov.au).
