Our students of the 2nd and 3rd year of the bachelor´s study programm Nursing in the Faculty of health, Catholic university in Ružomberok, Aneta Šostroneková, Natália Rudlová, Kristína Dzuriaková, Veronika Hollá, Marcela Michalková a Lucia Pokrievková actively participated at the 8th annual Medgames 2023, an international competition for medicine and nursing students, where they competed in teams of two. The competition was held from 13th to 14th October 2023 under the auspices of the Martin University hospital, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine of the UK (JFM UK) in Martin and the Martin Medical club. During ther first day students had the opportunity to take part in interesting workshops in the JFM UK, at individual locations the participants expanded their knowledge about the care of surgical patient, suctioning from the airways, ostomies, chest drainage and the first treatment of a newborn- commented Marcela Ižová, PhD., the head of the Nursing department at the Faculty of health, CU Ružomberok. In the evening a simultated mass accident took place with training on patient triage and care for them.
On Saturday they continued with the competition block at Martin University hospital, during which students solved various tasks and case studies at 15 locations (for example carying for patient with burns, changing a chest drain, admitting a patient to the postoperative room, communicating with the family within the donor transplant programm, toilet of the airway in a patient on artificial pulmonary ventilation, blood sampling in a closed manner, ileostomy care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first treatment of a newborn, dressing of an external fixator of a limb, administration of food through a nasogastric tube, care and administration of food and drugs into the PEG with subsequent education and others).
The third year students Kristína Dzuriaková and Veronika Hollá finished in a beautiful seventh place out of twenty teams (together forty students). The other teams finished in a beautiful 15th and 16th place. The students won by participating in this exceptional activity, they gained a lot of knowledge and skills, which they confirmed with their own statements: „I have to say that it was incredibly positive experience and I am very glad that I got the opportunity to participate in this activity and I do not regret it.“ Veronika Hollá. „At once I have to say that it was the best decision to apply for. Although as replacing persons, but it is an adventure for the whole life. During these two days we received countless great information, new skills and of course we met new people who were very friendly and we felt like „at home“ there. We don´t regret it at all. Every single task was different and interesting and I think I will keep this information in my head for as long as possible because it confirmed that I want to work as a nurse. Last but not least I would recommend out of ten to everyone to go and try it if they have the opportunity.“ Natália Rudlová, Aneta Šostroneková. „Medgames was a great opportunity to test theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the nursing field. It was also about critical thinking, about thinking clearly in emergency. I think that every student should take a chance like this “Marcela Michalková. „We take away a lot of experience, new knowledge and practical skills. We emphasize very good organization, great atmosphere and very pleasant people.“ Kristína Dzuriaková.
The students didn´t lose anything, they just gained!