The document discusses a study where 60 first-year nursing students participated in simulated patient interviews that were recorded on iPads. The students were assessed on their communication skills and asked to reflect on their performances. Due to limited video equipment, iPads provided an engaging way to record the interviews and allow students to review their interactions. Most students found the experience helpful to evaluate their body language, communication with strangers, and identify skills to improve. While the iPads presented some technical challenges, the study found they supported student-centered learning and prepared students for the technology used in healthcare.

1. Nursing Students on Cloud 9:
Engaging Students in Their
Assessments
Dr. Monique Dalziel RN, RM, PhD.,
Christine Dunn RN, MScN.,
& Belma Gaukrodger (Education Technologist).

2. What?
 60 Year 1 Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
Learners.
 Interpersonal Relationships – Therapeutic
Communications.
 Learners were to apply principles of
effective communication to therapeutic
relationships.

3. What?
The Aims:
1. To demonstrate appropriate & professional
communication skills.
2. To highlight strengths and areas for further
development by reflection on the
communication skills demonstrated in the
interview.

4. What?
Each learner participated in a 5 - 6
minute simulated interview with an
actor, to demonstrate appropriate and
professional communication skills.

5. So What?
Due to:
 Limited available videoing equipment.
 A need to engage students in their
assessments.
 A requisite to make learning fun and
interactive.
 An aspiration to embrace a new
technology...

6. So What?
 A decision was made to record the
simulated interview on an iPad.
 The interviews were recorded on an iPad
and saved onto a YouTube channel.
 Learners reviewed their recorded
interview, and reflected on the process.

7. Now What?
 Research shows that there are over 2,500 apps
available for iPhones and iPads. 300 of these
are directly labelled for nursing (Skiba, 2010, p.
319).
 Since iPads are making their way into the health
care arena, we are preparing our future
generation of learners to meet the demands of
the 21st century.

8. Now What?
 Mobile technologies allow learners the
opportunity to enhance learning away from the
traditional classroom setting.
 Technological devices encourage a student
centred approach to learning.
 Engaging with technology supports the
necessary attainment of information technology
competencies that will be required for their
future role as registered nurses (Hansen, 2011).

9. Findings
Learners responses:
“A great way to reflect on my body language
during the interview”
“ It provided me with good insight into
communicating with strangers”
“I learnt how to create an iCloud”
“I felt like I had control over my learning”
“I could see the skills I did well, and the ones I
could improve on”
“It felt like a real interview”

10. Challenges
 Slow Wi-Fi connection = slow upload
 Assumption that the generation of the students
would be technologically savvy.
 Time constraints – needed more hands on
experience with the technology prior to the
interviews.
 Size and location of the media classroom ~ small,
noisy, hot & stuffy.
 Limited size of the iPad screen.

11. Questions

12. Thank you
Monique.Dalziel@nmit.ac.nz
Chris.Dunn@nmit.ac.nz
Belma.Gaukrodger@nmit.ac.nz

13. References
Hansen, M. M. (2011). Are nursing students’ clinical skills competency
and self-confidence levels improved via video iPods? A randomized
controlled pilot study. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice,
1(1), 32-41.
Skiba, D. J. (2010). Back to school: What’s in your students’
backpacks? Nursing Education Perspectives, 31(5), 318-320.
Stein- Parbury, J. (2009). Patient & Person: Interpersonal skills in
nursing (4th Ed.). Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: Churchill
Livingstone.
Usher, K., & Holmes, C. (2006). Reflective practice: What, why and
how. In J. Daly, S. Speedy & D. Jackson (Eds.), Contexts of nursing
(3rd ed., pp. 111-126). Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia:
Elsevier.