Nursing Students Participate in Spirit of Adventure

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‘This is an experience that we will never forget. We learnt so much in a short period of time, not only about teambuilding and leadership, but about one another and ourselves,’ said UKZN student, Ms Dana Du Toit, following a Spirit of Adventure team building event at Shongweni Dam for second-year Nursing students.

The event involves outdoor adventure in a bid to promote personal and interpersonal growth. Nursing lecturer, Mrs Silingene Ngcobo said it has been one of the learning activities for the second-year Nursing programme since 1994.

Qualified instructors expose students to a variety of activities including team development theory and group dynamics. ‘This assists students to cope with group work/teamwork, which drives all the projects at second-year level, and beyond through to their professional life,’ Ngcobo said.

The Community Health Nursing module introduces students to preventative and promotive health activities. ‘At this level they are required to work in teams on various projects involving diverse communities (Cato Crest, Point and Austerville) and to engage with various stakeholders in these communities. The Spirit of Adventure is part of the multidisciplinary learning approach adopted by the Discipline. During this excursion, students also meet and engage with staff in a more relaxed environment,’ Ngcobo added.

Du Toit said students had an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of diversity in their class and added that the challenges they encountered forced them to communicate and interact with one another.

‘We participated in activities such as group dynamics, an obstacle/assault course, snake pit, a rafting race, potjiekos competition and abseiling. Everyone was willing to participate, even in things some students never thought they would do in their lifetime such as abseiling from a great height,’ said student Mr Lindelani Kubheka. He remarked that this promoted personal growth as students were forced to leave their comfort zones and confront their fears.

‘As a group we grew closer than ever before. Being placed at random, we got to interact with classmates we had never interacted with before and developed a strong bond. We broke down barriers that had kept us apart and were brought together especially during the night activity where we laughed, cried and danced together while showcasing our various talents and performing skits,’ he added.

‘We learnt to leave no member behind and to support and help one another. We realised that all things are possible, and that fears can be conquered. Finally, we learnt the importance of unity and teamwork and that, as future leaders, if serving is beneath us, then leading is beyond us,’ said Du Toit. 

Words: Nombuso Dlamini

Photographs: Supplied