Nursing students in Dundee have piloted a digital app designed to replace a 350-page learning journal.
The nursing and midwifery students at the University of Dundee have trialled the use of a cloud-based system to record their learning progress and key milestones.
The paperless ‘e-Pad’ app was developed by NES Technology Service (NTS) – part of the NHS in Scotland – in collaboration with NES Nursing and Midwifery pre-registration and practice education team.
It replaces the 350-page ‘Placement Assessment Documents’ manual and is accessed using a laptop or mobile device via the Turas learning and management platform for health and social care professionals.
Students can log learning outcomes and evidence, along with feedback from extra learning opportunities within the electronic version.
Morag Robertson, senior product manager NES Technology Service, said: “The e-Pad app is built using cloud based technology, specifically the Microsoft Azure platform, and the software is supported by the .NET Framework.
“It captures evidence which supports skills, procedures and proficiencies demonstrated during a student placement and retains standardised wording required by the Nursing & Midwifery Council.
“All e-Pad activity is led by the student nurse, who can provide access to supervisors and assessors via their Turas account. Feedback has been extremely positive, a big plus is that e-Pad rather than the paper pad means that students on virtual placements can be supported too.”
Mandatory learning can be updated in e-Pad along with the option to upload documents to the student’s personal library. Educators can review, provide feedback and sign off student submissions via e-Pad.
Julie Smith, practice learning lead, University of Dundee, added: “The convenience of e-Pad has been welcomed by our students who previously had to carry around huge folders of paperwork on their nursing placements.
“Likewise staff have commented on the benefits of being able to easily review and provide feedback to students during their placements.”
