In the IU School of Social Work course, Generalist Social Work Practice II: Theory and Skills, undergrad students at the junior level participate in hands-on experience to prepare for real-world situations after graduation. On the Bloomington campus, students build their knowledge through the Simulation (SIM) Lab, an interprofessional education facility shared between the School of Social Work, School of Nursing, School of Medicine, and Language and Hearing Sciences. The SIM Lab allows social work students to role-play high-pressure scenarios with students from other health fields, such as nursing.
“I think the benefit of the class is that it gives students a space to develop their foundational social work skills (empathy, active listening, attending and observing, open-ended questions, reflection) that they will carry with them throughout their social work career,” said Jessica Adams, visiting lecturer, School of Social Work. “They will find the experience useful no matter what setting they find themselves working in, in the future.”
The answer – professional attire.
“Our students noticed that they were the only school that did not have professional attire in the SIM Lab. With other schools wearing scrubs, our students made a request for the purchase of polo shirts. The students also expressed that the shirts could be worn for an interview or at their field practicum,” said Carlene Quinn, BSW program director, School of Social Work, IU Bloomington.
Once Leadership approved the request and students began wearing the shirts, Quinn saw a shift in students’ confidence, “It shows in their professionalism, which they can be very proud of. And, they have a sense of belonging; being part of a team of multiple disciplines is priceless.”
Adams agrees, “When you’re entering into a somewhat unknown, high-pressure situation, it helps if your outside self feels good so that you can better manage any anxiety you’re having on the inside. The shirts helped the students embody their professional identity as Social Workers and gave them the confidence boost needed to tackle the SIM Lab.”
“Thank you to everyone who helped,” said Quinn. “They [students] felt so proud to wear their shirts. A nursing professor even commented on how sharp they looked.”
To learn about how to receive your Bachelor of Social Work degree at IU Bloomington, please attend an info session or visit us at https://socialwork.iu.edu/indiana/bsw/
To begin in Fall 2023, application deadline is May 1.
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