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Practice Education

Beyond Clinical Skills

Podiatry is a practical profession and as such the development of the skills required for practice are integral parts of the undergraduate program.  Practice education is the process whereby students learn and develop a range of skills required to be a successful practitioner.

In order to complete the course, students are required to successfully complete in excess of 1000 hours of clinical practice across the 4 years of study; practice education will be, in the main, undertaken at our purpose built clinic at Merlin Park Hospital in Galway.  This facility will provide a service to approximately 23,000 patients per year with a wide variety of medical and surgical conditions, children, sports injuries and patients requiring soft tissue surgery.

In addition to the placements at Merlin Park students will also attend placements in:

  • Acute hospitals
  • Community HSE clinics
  • Private practice

In year 4 of the program students undertake a block placement that allows them to explore areas of Podiatry practice that they feel they would like to develop a career in; this time also allows student to travel abroad should they so wish. In the past students have elected to spend time experiencing practice in:

  • The New York School of Podiatric Medicine.
  • Industry partners in orthotic manufacture
  • Research programs within NUI Galway pertinent to the practice of Podiatry
  • Podiatry practice in Holland
  • National Health Service in England

Practice education is not just about the clinical skills required to treat patients, it is about developing the attitudes, values and skills required for professional practice.  Practice education allows the development of all these skills in a controlled environment under supervision of qualified Podiatrists trained in skills required for practice education.

The main aims of practice education are:

  • to integrate theory, practice, ethics and values of podiatry
  • to apply knowledge, professional reasoning and professional behaviour within practiceto promote professional competence
  • to work as an effective team member
  • to promote professional confidence
  • to provide opportunities for students to integrate theoretical and practical learning
  • to facilitate consolidation of student’s previous learning

 

Student’s views on Practice Education

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aaaAbbie McCarey

My name is Abbie. I am a second year student. I am really enjoying the course, especially the clinical aspect. We get an opportunity every week to put the skills we learn into practice in a clinical setting. I think it is really helpful to experience real life patients on clinic and develop other skills such as communicating with the patient. It is rewarding to treat the patients and send them home feeling satisfied.

The tutors on clinic are always willing to help us and give us advice which helps us grow as clinicians. I don’t think I would enjoy the course as much if the same emphasis wasn’t placed on the practical side as I really enjoy putting the knowledge we have learned in college into use.
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Aoife O Gorman

My name is Aoife and I am a currently a second year student in Podiatry at NUI Galway. I am enjoying the clinical aspect of the course as it is very hands-on which I find is very helpful. Having clinical placements every week means that we have the opportunity to ask our tutors questions on a regular basis and learn from practical experiences presented to us. I think it great to be able to put the skills we learn in college to practice in a real life clinical setting and always thoroughly enjoy my time on clinic.