Learning to be a ward sister

Abstract

Initially, this article argues that although general nurse training usually produces a competent and caring staff nurse, it contains little to develop the variety of skills needed by a ward sister. General nurse training concentrates on the theoretical and practical concept of nursing and places little emphasis on the teaching of interpersonal skills, particularly in relation to the management role of the ward sister. The ways in which these interpersonal skills are learnt and can best be taught are briefly discussed. The concept of experiential learning is described and the problems of its application highlighted. The question is then posed, can experiential learning methods be used in a two-dimensional setting, creating the drama within the student's mind, using only the written word? In an attempt to illustrate this, there is an experiential problem-solving ‘game’. The reader is asked to participate in the exercise and judge for him/herself the sort of learning it has fostered.