Canine Assistant Teacher's for Student Nurses Wellbeing

Abstract

Students are faced with many stressors within their academic life & this situation is made harder due to the fact that they may be separated from their known & familiar support networks. Students today are also impacted by additional stress through escalating loan debt and uncertain post-graduation job security. Middlesex University has pioneered a new initiative by using dogs as a form of therapy and a strategy to improve positive student experience. Providing them with an opportunity to interact with these canine assistant teachers helps to combat these problems. The Nursing Skills Department in collaboration with a Child Health lecturer is using canine assistant teachers with the nursing student’s.