A team of staff and students has proven its mettle by coming second out of 17 teams in an NHS-based military challenge.Made up of staff and students from adult nursing, child nursing, midwifery and paramedic practice, the team came a close second against teams from all over the region in the fourth annual South West Military Challenge.
Taking place at Okehampton Camp on Dartmoor, the September weekend saw the team undertake a number of difficult and exciting exercises, including treating casualties under fire and a triage planning exercise.
Most teams comprised of NHS staff, and each group was awarded points based on their time for completing each exercise and the members’ contribution. Clare Keenan, Lecturer in Paramedic Practice, explains why the challenge was such a success.
“This event usually only consists of NHS staff from a variety of trusts, so for our students to decide to enter a team in the first place was fantastic,” she said. “Teams came from as far afield as Bournemouth and Salisbury, so the fact that, together, we achieved a second place finish is outstanding.”
Emily Bowden, a second-year student nurse at the University of Plymouth's Exeter School of Nursing, said:
“The weekend was a fantastic experience for all of us – and especially brilliant given that none of us had really properly met before. Working alongside our lecturers to achieve the same goal was a great experience, and the communication and teamwork skills we developed I’m sure will go on to help us in practice.”
