Nursing IT: A Peer Assisted Learning Project for Nursing and IT Students

Previous research indicated that nursing students lack IT competence, Fetter (2009), but have strong social skills. Equally observations by the Placement Employability Experience Unit in the Faculty of ACES have identified that IT students are technically able, but weaker in social skills. Employers are seeking graduate with a broad skill range in both subject specific and employability skills, (Ehiyazaryan and Baraclough 2009). Therefore this project aimed to address these issues through a peer learning activity. It is recognised that peer assisted learners can communicate to one another in a language that both understand, Smith et al, (2007). The symbiotic activity was offered as a venture opportunity for level 5 computing students to manage in the Venture Matrix at Sheffield Hallam University. The Venture Matrix is a managed risk enterprise and entrepreneurial environment open to all students, and offers a framework in which students can operate micro-businesses to develop and apply their subject knowledge and employability skills to support real business opportunities/activities offered in the Venture Matrix, Laughton (2010). The Nursing IT venture was offered as business activity with the aims of providing an opportunity; • for computing students to apply their IT skills and develop their employability skills • to meet the individualised IT learning needs of the Level 4 nursing students. The value of the learning in the venture was evaluated by both sets of students. This IT service was offered by the computing students to all level 4 student nurses who commenced their course September 2009 and January 2010. Analysis of post project student questionnaires, evaluations and staff discussions showed that all stakeholders recognised the potential and sustainability of this service. The key learning point are that the project:-·created good cross-faculty communication and sharing of expertises both staff and students: although only a small number of nursing students took the opportunity to use the service they valued the support they received: the computing students enjoyed the opportunity to disseminate their IT skills.