The ‘Observership Program’ is an invaluable opportunity for Medical students to enhance their understanding of clinical practices in a new environment. It helps in building professional networking and gaining practical knowledge.
To achieve these aims, an Observership program was planned and implemented for the 1st and 2nd year students from Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program, which is a part of the IPEP Program, in two separate batches. The MD students shadowed fourth-year students from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program during their clinical placement at TUH, as per the suggestion proposed by the Chancellor Prof. Hossam Hamdy, GMU.
The first batch attended the program from May 8, 2024, to May 10, 2024, while the second batch participated from May 15, 2024, to May 17, 2024.
The Program was coordinated by Prof. Selva Titus Chacko, Dean of the College of Nursing (CON), Dr. Soma Ibrahim Ali, Assistant Professor at CON, Dr. Ramya Rathan, Director of the Phase I MD Program and Associate Professor at the College of Medicine, and Ms. Manvi Upadhaya, a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree from Deakin University, Australia, currently enrolled in the graduate entry MD program.
The first batch consisted of 27 Medical students who shadowed 13 Nursing students, while the second batch consisted of 12 Medical students who shadowed 7 Nursing students. The clinical rotations were meticulously planned and discussed with the students, covering four units: Medical Unit, Surgical Unit, ICU, and Emergency Unit.
The Medical students were allocated to different units daily to maximize their exposure and benefit from a variety of experiences. The Nursing students diligently guided the Medical students according to their clinical objectives, which focused on communication skills in patient care settings, bedside manners, and patient-care approaches. The Nursing students organized a role play for the medical students to demonstrate how to approach patients effectively. Additionally, they provided instruction on basic procedures such as checking vital signs and conducting ECG tests.
Dr. Soma Ibrahim, Clinical Faculty from the CoN, engaged with the Medical students to discuss therapeutic communication techniques and how to use them to maintain a therapeutic relationship with patients and their families.
Following the clinical training, Medical students provided feedback on their Observership experience. They expressed appreciation for the opportunity to enhance their understanding of clinical practices in a real-world setting. They found the experience of shadowing fourth-year Nursing students particularly beneficial in understanding the interdisciplinary aspects of patient care.