Bridging the gap: Reflections on teaching interprofessional communication to undergraduate paramedic and nursing students

The literature emphasises the vital importance of interprofessional communication during clinical handover as being paramount to patient safety. At Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales, we explored how simulation can be employed in an interprofessional education exercise exposing paramedic and nursing students to a high-pressure emergency department wherein they must engage in patient handover. Effective communication, especially during clinical handover, is of paramount importance for patient safety. Reports from our students confirm that even this simulated experience can be daunting. It is possible for academics to work across disciplines to prepare students to meet these pressures, and interprofessional education through simulation is a useful method.