iPods aid nursing students

• By MARSHA SILLS
• Acadiana bureau
• Published: Nov 28, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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LAFAYETTE — Check out what’s on a University of Louisiana at Lafayette nursing student’s iPod and you may learn how to physically access a patient or properly take vital signs.

This semester, nursing faculty produced podcasts of fundamental skills sophomore nursing students must perfect in their first clinical course. 

The technology to produce the podcasts, as well as 30 nano iPods made available for the semester for students without access to the portable devices, were made possible with a $50,000 grant from the Board of Regents. The devices will remain with the program and loaned to future students. 

The podcasts offer students the opportunity to watch and rewatch faculty demonstrate skills wherever and whenever they may need a refresher. 

“Sometimes you think, ‘Did she say this was next or this next?,’” said Lahra Boitnott, a nursing sophomore in the course. “It’s been a good reference to go back and pick up on something.”

The podcasts were a way to blend students’ interests with the course work, said Janis Guilbeau, one of the nursing instructors who coordinated the initiative.

“The goal of this pilot project was for the retention and recruitment of nursing students,” Guilbeau said. “We want students to be successful. Different students learn by different methods: visual, audio and by reading. We thought podcasting would help them learn by repetition and the use of a platform that they’re familiar with.” 

Several students in the program are also older or nontraditional students that have also benefited from the accessibility of studying wherever their busy schedules may take them, said Susan Randol, nursing freshmen and sophomore coordinator and instructor. 

“With this they can be at a kid’s soccer game and watch it or access it at home,” Randol said. 

“This is the first clinical experience for them, so it’s stressful and they have a lot to do. Wherever they are. They can go, ‘wait a minute, what did she do?’ and know.” 

The idea for the podcasts was in part sparked by podcasts produced by St. Pius Elementary School in Lafayette, Guilbeau said. 

She and Randol visited the school before embarking on their own project. 

“These young students were producing their own podcasts,” Guilbeau said with a smile.