Post Conference Ideas

Leda · Aug 26, 2005

Given that the higher level NCLEX questions seem to be centered on prioritization of care and delegation perhaps you might want to have the students use their actual clinical experiences to present their patients with the focus being prioritization of care. You could use a case presentation approach with the actual patient experiences being the focal point for reinforcing class content and critical thinking.

It has been my experience that the students need to be active participants in the post conference so that they get the most benefit. Also, you want to be sure that whatever you present is in concert with the course/clinical objectives. Postconference can be an excellent time to bridge theory to practice, but remember these are learners who are being overwhelmed with information. Conflicting information only adds to their stress. Keep it siimple and focus on the underlying principles and critical thinking strategies for safe and effective patient care.

Students do like to learn about new equipment and skills, so this can certainly be incorporated into your post conferences. Whatever you do make them think!

Best of luck to you.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Sep 7, 2005

Given that the higher level NCLEX questions seem to be centered on prioritization of care and delegation perhaps you might want to have the students use their actual clinical experiences to present their patients with the focus being prioritization of care. You could use a case presentation approach with the actual patient experiences being the focal point for reinforcing class content and critical thinking.
It has been my experience that the students need to be active participants in the post conference so that they get the most benefit. Also, you want to be sure that whatever you present is in concert with the course/clinical objectives. Postconference can be an excellent time to bridge theory to practice, but remember these are learners who are being overwhelmed with information. Conflicting information only adds to their stress. Keep it siimple and focus on the underlying principles and critical thinking strategies for safe and effective patient care.
Students do like to learn about new equipment and skills, so this can certainly be incorporated into your post conferences. Whatever you do make them think!
Best of luck to you.

These are great ideas. Thank you so much for sharing. I have students at Med Surg II level (2nd semester ADN), in the spring of each year. During a short pre-conference, the students and I briefly discuss the care needed for their patients. The post-conference at the end of the student nurse shift is generally a time for students to share experiences, a time of debriefing for any upsetting occurrences, and the application of classroom content to the care of patients. Sometimes I will have mini demonstrations or practice sessions: practice spiking IV bags and running fluid through tubing (if the hospital has some out-of-date supplies which they wish to donate to us), IV pump practice, IV sticks in a mannequin arm (again, donated supplies), using saline bottles for students to practice mixing "clear" and "cloudy" insulin. Other ideas: Practice dimensional analysis for hypothetical patient medication calculations, watch short video clips. The possibilities are endless :)

purplemania, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2005

How about topics related to lectures?

Feeding pumps, enteral and parenteral feedings and nutrition in general. Do they know which meds can be given via PEG tube?

How about assigning them into groups of 3-5 then have each group make a presentation with post-test?

Invite speakers. I had a maternal-child group and invited a S.A.N.E. nurse to talk about forensics, her education, case study. I also had in a nurse-midwife and neonatologist (he talked about how to assess the newborn and what the MD wants to know when you call). The students liked special speakers.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 9, 2005

How about topics related to lectures?
Feeding pumps, enteral and parenteral feedings and nutrition in general. Do they know which meds can be given via PEG tube?
How about assigning them into groups of 3-5 then have each group make a presentation with post-test?
Invite speakers. I had a maternal-child group and invited a S.A.N.E. nurse to talk about forensics, her education, case study. I also had in a nurse-midwife and neonatologist (he talked about how to assess the newborn and what the MD wants to know when you call). The students liked special speakers.

Wonderful ideas, purplemania. I, too, get post conf speakers. My students love hear about case studies involving forensic medicine.........I do , too!! :)