Developing and piloting a simulated placement experience for students

COVID-19 and rising student numbers are affecting healthcare education,
particularly access to clinical placements. As healthcare education
is increasingly supported by technology and non-traditional teaching
methods, educational experiences gained through clinical placement also
require new approaches. This article explores and discusses the use of a
simulated clinical placement for a dietetic student cohort. During this virtual
placement, students were able to explore and experience a virtual clinical
setting and immerse themselves in a placement experience. A vast range
of virtual resources were linked to the online placement portal, including
statutory and mandatory training, dietetic resources, patient journeys and
interprofessional communication. Advantages of this approach include that
all students experience a given situation, unlike in traditional placements
where workloads, variety and engagement vary; there is also no risk to patient
safety. The aim is to enhance the learning experience to create effective,
efficient clinicians. This virtual placement for dietetics is part of a bigger
project to develop and evaluate the use of a virtual placement framework
in a range of professions. The concept of virtual placement may have been
brought forward by the COVID-19 crisis but was inevitable with the move to
more technology-enhanced learning tools.