School of Clinical Medicine

The Clinical Skills Laboratory (Skills Lab) at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine (NRMSM), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), is a state-of-the-art training facility dedicated to equipping medical students with essential clinical competencies. Primarily serving undergraduate students in the MBChB programme, the Skills Lab provides a structured and supportive learning environment for mastering clinical skills before patient interaction.

Located in Room 200 on the 2nd floor of the Main Building, with additional teaching space on the 5th floor, the Skills Lab is an integral part of the College of Health Sciences. It supports both pre-clinical and clinical students, offering training in core clinical, procedural, and emergency care skills. The facility is also a resource for clinical disciplines such as Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and Emergency Medicine, as well as other health science disciplines requiring specialised skills training.

Our vision

Our vision is to provide a secure, structured environment where medical students can develop key clinical competencies and professional identity. Through simulation-based learning, interactive small-group teaching, and hands-on practice, the Skills Lab facilitates the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical application. This approach ensures that students transition smoothly from pre-clinical training to real-world clinical practice, fostering confidence, competence, and lifelong learning habits.

Programmes offered

The Clinical Skills Laboratory offers structured training in clinical and emergency skills across all years of the MBChB programme. Our teaching is delivered by a dedicated team of clinicians, paramedics, and specialist educators, covering:

• Communication Skills: Patient-centered history-taking, breaking bad news, and professional interactions.
• Physical Examination Skills: System-based examination techniques, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and abdominal assessments.
• Procedural Skills: Intravenous cannulation, urinary catheterization, suturing, airway management, and lumbar puncture.
• Emergency and Resuscitation Skills: Basic and advanced life support, trauma management, and acute care interventions.
• Simulation-Based Learning: High-fidelity simulations, video-assisted learning, standardized patient encounters, and clinical reasoning exercises.

Students engage in active learning using a variety of teaching methodologies, including interactive demonstrations, case-based discussions, simulated patient interactions, and video-based assessments.

Research and Innovation

The Clinical Skills Laboratory is actively involved in research to enhance medical education and clinical training. Faculty members are engaged in Masters, PhD, and other research initiatives exploring:

• The impact of simulation-based training on clinical competence.
• The effectiveness of structured feedback on student learning outcomes.
• The transferability of communication skills from simulated to real clinical settings.
• AI-driven innovations in medical education, including virtual patient simulations.
• Socio-demographic trends in MBChB admissions and their implications for training.

Community Engagement activities

In line with UKZN’s commitment to social responsibility, the Skills Lab extends its resources to community engagement initiatives. Medical students, under faculty supervision, participate in outreach programmes such as:

• HIV Awareness and First Aid Training: Providing life-saving skills to schools, community clinics, and religious organizations.
• Health Promotion Workshops: Engaging with communities on preventive healthcare practices.
• Emergency Response Training: Teaching essential resuscitation and trauma management skills to non-medical professionals.

Our Team

The Clinical Skills Laboratory is led by experienced faculty members, clinicians, and support staff who are committed to student success. Our multidisciplinary team includes:

• Head and Clinical Skills Coordinator: Dr. Reina Abraham
• Skills Lab Manager and First-Year Skills Lead: Mr. Rishi Premjith
• Skills Lab Administrator: Mr. Wandile Mbanjwa
• Skills Lab Educator and IsiZulu specialist: Ms. Thobile Nkwanyana
• Emergency Care, Resuscitation, and Fourth-Year Skills Lead: [Mr.Rishi Premjith]
• Second-Year Clinical Skills Lead: Dr. Reina Abraham
• Third-Year Clinical Skills Lead: Dr. Reina Abraham

The Skills Lab collaborates closely with clinical departments to ensure that the curriculum remains up to date, aligned with best practices, and responsive to evolving healthcare needs.

Contact 

For inquiries, please contact:

Skills Lab Administrator
Mr. Wandile Mbanjwa
Tel: +27 31 260 4611
Email: mbanjwaw@ukzn.ac.za