Interprofessional Activity at Nickel City Ninjas

Introduction

On January 18, 2024, students from the Paramedic and Police Foundations programs enjoyed a dynamic and successful interprofessional event at Nickel City Ninjas, a ninja parkour gym in Sudbury. This innovative event encouraged collaboration and learning among future health and safety professionals.

Objectives

The activity had several key objectives:

Testing professional skills: Customized physical tests were organized to assess the physical and technical skills of Police Foundations students.

Encourage interprofessional collaboration: Students from the Occupational Therapy Assistant/Physiotherapy Assistant and Massage Therapy programs provided valuable support throughout the event, facilitating the exchange of skills and expertise.

Facilitating exchange: Dedicated time was set aside for participants to share experiences, discuss challenges in their respective fields and strengthen mutual understanding.

Procedure:

The event began with guided warm-ups designed to physically and mentally prepare participants for upcoming events. This warm-up session also created a positive and dynamic atmosphere, building team spirit right from the start of the day.

A presentation of the different events followed, providing a thorough understanding of the physical and technical challenges ahead. This allowed participants to become familiar with the skills being assessed and anticipate the day’s key aspects.

An element of relaxation was introduced through massages offered by Massage Therapy students. This wellness break was much appreciated, providing the Police Foundations and Paramedic teams with an opportunity to relax and reduce their stress before the upcoming events.

An interprofessional competition followed the massage sessions. Mixed teams were formed, bringing together students from different programs. This fostered closer collaboration and allowed them to apply their skills in a competitive but friendly environment.

The exchange sessions were a highlight of the event, allowing participants to discuss the realities of their respective professions, explore potential synergies, and lay the foundation for future collaboration.

Conclusion and Outlook

In conclusion, this interprofessional event at Nickel City Ninjas was a success, offering a comprehensive experience combining warm-ups, sharing of experiences, massage sessions and interprofessional competitions. The organizers were successful in creating an environment conducive to interprofessional learning, collaboration and skill-building.

Positive feedback from participants underscores the positive impact of this immersive approach. Organizers plan to explore this approach further by incorporating new activities and continuing to promote interprofessional collaboration.

Stay tuned for future announcements about other exciting events that will enrich students’ academic and professional experiences!