Visit from Konan Women's University, Kobe Japan
In March 2018, the School of Nursing hosted a visit for 20 nursing students and 2 lecturers from Konan Women’s University, Kobe, Japan.
The visit, also involved English Language sessions provided by the School of Language Studies and Applied Linguistics. The students learnt language related to nursing before attending nursing based sessions. The visit was the result of the continued collaboration between the K.W.U. Faculty of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Department of Nursing and the C.C.C.U Faculty of Health and Wellbeing and the School of Nursing
The visit coincided with “The Beast from East”. This disrupted some of the taught sessions in the first week. However, the students spent time enjoying outdoor activities in the snow with their Host Families. The lecturers and students all commented on how beautiful Canterbury Cathedral looked surrounded by snow with bright blue sky. Academic Directed Study based on the principles of Problem Based Learning was given to the lecturers and students. This provided an excellent opportunity to demonstrate P.B.L and how it is used within The School of Nursing
During the second week, our visitors attended a session related to Person Centred Care in Children facilitated by Sarah Stead and Dave Winch. This was also supported by Liz Williams and student buddy’s Katie Schofield and Rhiannon Bartlett. The outcomes from the group work provided excellent insights into differences and similarities in care related to children in the U.K and Japan. A session was also facilitated related to care of adults in acute hospital settings with a Mental Illness. The students shared some of their oven experiences of caring for adults with Mental Illness.
The FHWB students who are visiting KWU in June had their first pre departure briefing and started to learn about Japan and Japanese Culture from the KWU students. There was a great atmosphere in the room as people started to find out about each other and it was evident everyone enjoyed finding ways to overcome difficulties communicating due to language barriers.
A visit to The Pilgrims Hospice demonstrated differences in how palliative and End of Life Care is delivered and managed in the U.K. It also highlighted significant differences into the role of Registered Nurses in Japan and the U.K. For example, the students were surprised to learn about the role of the Nurse Prescriber. Cathy Bernal facilitated a session demonstrating how Learning Disabled co teachers teach adult student nurses via Simulated Hospital Admissions. Pat Selway one of student buddy’s also joined the group for this.
The highlight of the visit was The Reminiscence Café simulation. This was planned with Nancy Clark (Occupational Therapy) Caroline Ratcliffe (Simulation Suite Team) and Jane Brindley (Adult Nursing). The café had a 1950’s theme with Virtual Reality Headsets showing scenes from the Coronation in 1953, a Reminiscence table with photos and DVD’s of The Hollywood Stars from the 1940’s and 1950’s and original toys from the same decades. Afternoon Tea was provided with scones baked by Jane and the students had the opportunity to try pureed scones! There was a table with adaptive cutlery and the students were able to make cucumber sandwiches, with the crusts cut off using adaptive cutlery. Other activities included a craft table and an inter-generational table and some beautiful china tea sets loaned by The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge. The session ended with a raffle of 4 tea cosies that Jane had knitted and very kindly donated to the café. Sultana Bhatti (Simulation Suite Team) and student buddies Liz Appleton, Joelle Tumurcin, Katie Schofield, Lisa Attwood, Laura Pechey and Emily Sage helped facilitate activities during the afternoon.