SAFER: An Occupational Health and Safety Teaching Framework for Nursing Students

Occupational health and safety (OHS) education is integral to healthcare practice. Nurses/nursing students are particularly vulnerable during their work in this high-risk industry. Current clinical teaching appears to focus on individual risks rather than provide a broader overview of the complex issues involved. A novel educational resource, the Safety Assessment Framework for Evaluation and Assessment (SAFER), is presented, addressing a gap in current education resources for nursing students to broaden understanding about OHS. The study re-examined pilot focus group data from first- and third- year student OHS focus groups in an Australian university School of Nursing. The SAFER framework was informed by student nurses impressions/ experiences of OHS (published in 2015 and 2016), supported by a literature review. Central to the SAFER framework is OHS ‘risk management’. It incorporates stakeholders and Australian legislation, all in relation to ‘responsibility’ and ‘trust’. Examples use focus group participant voice, linked with researcher interpretation and supporting documentation. Clinical educators now have a broad resource to facilitate student group discussions about OHS from multiple perspectives. SAFER’s value beyond face validity should be tested, to confirm its applicability as a teaching resource in various university and training environments. Keywords: occupational health, education, nursing, curriculum, student