Interprofessional Learning in Action: Nursing & Medical Students Team Up

A medical student in a white coat and a nursing student in blue scrubs walk side by side while holding folders. They are engaged in conversation in a busy hallway with other students visible in the background.

Students from Baptist Health Sciences University’s College of Nursing and College of Osteopathic Medicine participated in a dynamic interprofessional learning experience designed to strengthen communication, collaboration, and patient-centered care. Through intentional teamwork, the event demonstrated how future health care professionals learn side by side as they prepare to engage patients with confidence and compassion.

The simulation began with a brief five-minute debrief, during which students aligned expectations and revisited key concepts. They then moved into 30-minute patient encounters in the SP Lab and the SIM Lab, where they applied motivational interviewing strategies—an essential component of the Transtheoretical Model of Change. During these encounters, students counseled standardized patients on nutrition behaviors in scenarios involving prediabetes and borderline hypertension. This hands-on experience enhanced their ability to navigate patient resistance and build meaningful rapport.

The event concluded with a 20-minute debrief led by two registered dietitians, who guided students in reflecting on their communication techniques, clinical decision-making, and interprofessional teamwork. This discussion helped students connect scientific understanding with real-world patient interaction.

Overall, the simulation strengthened students’ clinical and interpersonal skills while underscoring the collaborative spirit that characterizes modern health care. The experience reinforced that effective patient care is grounded in teamwork, empathy, and shared learning.

  • A nursing student in blue scrubs and a medical student in a white coat sit in a classroom during an interprofessional simulation. The medical student is listening attentively, while the nursing student holds a clipboard and takes notes.
  • A nursing student in blue scrubs works alongside a medical student in a white coat at a computer station. Both students are focused on reviewing documents and entering information during the simulation lab activity.
  • A nursing student in blue scrubs smiles while sitting at a table with medical students in white coats during a group debrief session. Other student groups are visible working together in the background.

Students from Baptist Health Sciences University’s College of Nursing and College of Osteopathic Medicine participated in a dynamic interprofessional learning experience designed to strengthen communication, collaboration, and patient-centered care.