Inter-professional Learning at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dublin

Background: This poster illustrates the IPL opportunities available in the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH). Theoretical underpinning: A number of different theories underpin inter-professional education however adult... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
This poster illustrates the IPL opportunities available in the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH).

Theoretical underpinning:
A number of different theories underpin inter-professional education however adult learning theory dominates the literature on IPL with an emphasis on the students taking responsibility for their own learning (Adams, Barr et al 2005), teaching each other and learning from each other.

Technique:
The NRH is a teaching hospital with students from ten different disciplines attending yearly for practice education. At present we have clinical practice tutors employed in the disciplines of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Medicine and Nursing. This affords the opportunity to provide rich interprofessional learning. We have developed a structure that includes:
Inter-professional tutor meetings
An inter-professional tutorial menu
Inter-professional careers evening
IPL student led teaching opportunities.

Evaluation and application:
The benefits of IPL are numerous and have been evidenced anectodally at the NRH through feedback from both students and practice educators.
The use of IPL in neuro-rehabilitation has facilitated greater awareness among the students of each-others roles, enhanced communication across disciplines and assisted the students in openly exploring and acknowledging the similarities and subtle differences across some disciplines in relation to practice and fundamentals of theoretical concepts. Anecdotally students demonstrate improved confidence in liaising with peers from other disciplines, have been more likely to make appropriate referrals to the correct discipline and seek out opportunities to work collaboratively with members of other disciplines.