Due to widespread availability of electronic technology, faculty is increasing their use of various applications in nursing education. At Ball State University, nursing faculty are testing the use of videoconferencing in clinical supervision of students who provide care in home settings. The inexpensive, 2-way interactive videophone integrates an active-matrix liquid crystal display, digital video camera, a high-performance modem, and a video processing system into a desktop enclosure. The videophone connects to the existing standard telephone lines in both the client's home and faculty's office with no additional or special wiring or telephone line cost required. The desktop videophone is a stand-alone unit and does not require a personal computer. By using a speakerphone, the student and clients are able to see and speak remotely with the faculty. Preliminary results from the first clinical group of students and clients showed that both found minimal distractions in using the videophone and identified the ability to see the faculty as its most desired feature. Although the faculty experienced a moderate degree of difficulty in assessing the clients' health status due to decreased visual resolution quality, the faculty experienced no difficulties in hearing client and student interactions. With continuing improvements in the quality and cost of electronic devices, videophones may become valuable adjuncts for clinical supervision of students. Use of the technology also serves to link education with rapidly emerging technology innovations in practice settings.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the use of videophones in clinical supervision of students in home settings. 2. Examine faculty perceptions about the degree of applicability of videophones in home visit clinical supervision. 3. Determine client and student satisfaction with videophones for remote 2-way interactions with faculty
Keywords: Telecommunications, Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.