The use of inter-professional education (IPE) healthcare law and ethics scenario based learning sessions amongst nursing, midwifery and law students: An evaluation.

BACKGROUND

Litigation and disciplinary action taken by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) against nurses' remains a concern with costs of claims against the NHS increasing by 72% over the five years up to 2015/16 with almost £1.5 billion spent in one year alone. Additionally, 5476 referrals regarding registrants' fitness to practice were made to the NMC in 2016-2017. The aims of this paper are to discuss how a pair of scenario based IPE sessions focussed on healthcare law and ethical topics were introduced as an addition to the existing nursing and midwifery curricula and to report the evaluation of these sessions.

METHODS

Two scenario based sessions attended by nursing, midwifery and law students were delivered as an addition to existing nursing, midwifery and law curricula. The scenarios were based on real life cases and students collaborated to identify means of managing legal and ethical issues arising from the scenarios. These sessions were facilitated by lecturers from the schools of law, midwifery and nursing.

FINDINGS

All attending students completed an evaluation questionnaire. Student evaluations indicated that the experience of working through the scenarios with their colleagues from other disciplines had enabled them to gain further knowledge and understanding around healthcare law and ethics. Student evaluations indicated a high level of engagement and interest in the subject and also drew attention to the supportive structure of the IPE sessions.

CONCLUSION

Nurses and midwives continue to be called to account by both their professional body and in law for issues related to their practice. A way to enable students to consider this and aid their preparation for clinical and professional practice is through the use of clinically and professionally relevant healthcare law and ethics scenarios in IPE sessions.