Nursing students enrolled at Charles Darwin University have been given a boost following the launch of an innovative on-line student nomination process.
Launched by CDU’s Faculty of Education, Health and Science (EHS), the new process, called SPM, represents the University’s investment in developing new technologies and tools to facilitate flexible delivery and learning for students.
Within the first few hours of the process being available, more than 152 students in the Bachelor of Nursing programme had registered preferences for clinical teaching blocks (CTB) and nursing placements.
System designer and EHS Executive Officer, Roni Roberts said the tool has streamlined the placement process and has improved the students’ ability to register preferences and the ability of CDU to match those preferences. This on-line process replaces paper forms and has improved the whole system for both students and staff.
“In terms of saving administration, there is a lot of unmeasured interaction that goes along with submitting forms,” he said.
“In the past many students became anxious that their forms had not been received and they often telephoned to make sure the forms had arrived, or they forgot what they had nominated and they called to find out.
"This process has reduced the anxiety and the phone calls.”
Phase I of SPM has been in operation since March 2008 and this provided much-needed structure and electronic management of student placements for the nursing team, winners of the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for exceptional performance by general staff Team Award.
Once the student has completed the nomination process, they receive an email statement to verify the choices they have made which acts as a receipt. This represents a huge leap forward for CDU and its move towards a more flexible approach and being a leader in the provision of external study. Students who live in any State around Australia can now make their nomination in moments.