Award for outstanding practical projects in nursing training

Dornbirn, October 3, 2024 - The KoPAL conference for practical instructors took place for the seventh time at the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (FHV). The Good Practice PAL Award was presented for the second time as part of the event. The University Hospital Zurich was delighted to receive the main prize. The Marienhospital Stuttgart and the LKH Rankweil each received special prizes.

The KoPAL conference has established itself as an important event in Vorarlberg for all practice instructors working in healthcare facilities. In their work, they accompany trainees during their practical phases in healthcare facilities. The theme of this year's event was symbolized by a compass, which stands for the orientation and direction-giving effect of practical guidance for trainees. Around 140 guests attended the seventh edition of the conference at the FHV, including state councillors Katharina Wiesflecker and Martina Rüscher. "The trainees in our facilities are the future employees that we so urgently need. My thanks go to the practical instructors who take on this important task. Attractive internships are a key and virtually the calling card of an organization," Wiesflecker emphasized.    

Winner University Hospital Zurich

The Good Practice PAL Awards presented by FHV and connexia - Society for Health and Care focused on outstanding projects. First place went to Sandra Moser and Michaela Key from the University Hospital Zurich for the concept "Experiencing and understanding caring. Intensive care by healthcare assistants". They were delighted to receive prize money of 1000 euros. The good practice is an example of exemplary practical guidance and support, with an approach that has been thought through and implemented down to the last detail. "The strength of the submitted project lies precisely in this methodical and thorough approach. What makes the concept so exemplary is its successful transferability to other settings," emphasized FHV lecturer and organizer of the event, Peter Jäger.    

Design thinking in practical guidance

Elena Plaasch and Johannes Lechner from Marienhospital Stuttgart received a special prize worth 500 euros from Petra Ilg from connexia for their concept on "Design Thinking in practical guidance". Her creative approach to problem solving focused on people. The implementation of the design thinking process was illustrated using an instruction overview for trainees.  

Special prize for LKH Rankweil

Maria Purkart and Johannes Frick from Rankweil LKH were also delighted to receive a special prize worth 500 euros for their concept entitled "Neurology 6 learning day as part of the N6 learning station at Rankweil LKH". They dealt with the question of how trainees can be optimally supported as they grow into their future careers. This resulted in the learning station project, which has been successfully implemented over the years and has now been revised. "A learning station is an excellent, evidence-based way of supporting trainees on their path to practice readiness," says Jäger.  

Provincial Councillor Martina Rüscher emphasized: "Practice guidance is a very central aspect of training in the field of Health Care and Nursing. By providing targeted support and encouragement to trainees, the practical instructors make a significant contribution to the quality of training in Vorarlberg. I am impressed by the commitment with which the practical instructors in Vorarlberg fulfill their task. I am particularly pleased that this year the learning station at Rankweil State Hospital - Neurology - was awarded this prize. My thanks go to the organizers who created this platform with KoPAL, but also to the participating practice instructors for their eager listening."  

Visibility and networking

The KoPAL program offered information on current developments in Health Care and Nursing studies, addressed professional topics related to practical guidance and served to network and raise the visibility of practical instructors in Vorarlberg. Among other things, the event offered impulses in the context of a lecture by practice guidance expert German Quernheim and a panel discussion with experts from theory and practice.