Learning to Care for a child with a tracheostomy: Student Nurse Experiences of Online Learning and Reusable Learning objects

Background Acquisition of knowledge and skills for the safe delivery of nursing care for children with a tracheostomy is a central requirement in national and international pre-registration nurse education programmes, yet... [ view full abstract ]

Background
Acquisition of knowledge and skills for the safe delivery of nursing care for children with a tracheostomy is a central requirement in national and international pre-registration nurse education programmes, yet concerns exist in relation to the effectiveness of curricula in meeting these requirements. Online learning using reusable learning objects (RLO) is an innovative, flexible means of ensuring the acquisition of such knowledge and skills.
Aim
To describe an evaluation of an innovative, evidenced based suite of online RLO for teaching tracheostomy care to student nurses.
Objectives
To evaluate whether students could:
• Readily access each RLO in academic and clinical contexts
• Use the RLO to learn about caring for a child with a tracheostomy.
Description of innovation
Key steps in the development, implementation and evaluation of the RLO included: collaboration between academic and clinical partners, evaluation of evidence to support the application of online learning and RLO, designing storyboards, capturing visual images of the performance of each skill, developing power point and video presentations with voice overs, editing in Articulate® storyline package and evaluating the RLO with student nurses.
Impact of innovation
The learning tool has been positively evaluated by undergraduate student nurses in a large urban university. RLO were noted to be easy to navigate (94%) and accessible at home and/or in the university (95%) using a variety of devices including mobile platforms. 92% of students indicated that they planned to re-access the RLO during clinical placement to refresh their knowledge and skills and to ensure accurate practice. Students enjoyed learning on their own (89%) and stated that the RLO assisted them to retain knowledge and skills in this area (89%).
Conclusions and implications
RLO provided accessible, enhanced student learning for caring for a child with a tracheostomy. Resourcing the development of diverse RLO to teach clinical skills should be considered.