Integrating Simulation Into Student Learning Experiences PDF

Integrating simulation into student learning experiences Leslie Knudson For example, in the maternal child health nursing Managing Editor course, the instructor has replaced one hour of T he use of simulation...

Integrating simulation into student learning experiences Leslie Knudson For example, in the maternal child health nursing Managing Editor course, the instructor has replaced one hour of T he use of simulation to improve critical skills Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides with a related and knowledge acquisition while allowing simulation scenario. Students are introduced students to gain “real-life” experience in a to a fetal death at time of birth situation, which safe environment has become a common practice involves students entering a patient room where in nursing education. Although simulation a mother is holding a baby with her husband at is a long-standing technique employed by her side, and deciding what to say to the parents. many industries, such as the aviation industry, Another scenario that is part of the community simulation in health care settings has evolved nursing curriculum involves a simulation significantly in the past decade and has been laboratory assembled to resemble an elderly embraced as an effective teaching strategy to person’s home. Students are required to assess an facilitate student learning. elderly patient in their home environment, taking into account environmental considerations that Today, simulation techniques used in nursing may affect the patient’s well-being. In addition, education range from role-playing and using students have participated in simulations that low-fidelity mannequins to using computerized emphasize specific medical practices, such as how systems and high-fidelity human patient to care for patients with respiratory distress and simulators. According to the National Council of how to perform isolation techniques. State Boards of Nursing, 87 percent of nursing schools use high-fidelity mannequins in their For Cannon’s mental health class, students take courses.1 Virtual reality simulation is another part in simulations that require them to care for technique that can capitalize on the technological a patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder or skills of students and provide increased exposure schizophrenia and examine the entire spectrum of to simulation in areas where there is limited a patient’s well-being. Platt College is also one of access to a simulation space.2 Although chosen the only nursing schools in the country that has simulation methods vary based on settings, incorporated simulation into its pathophysiology preferred learning styles, and available resources, class. “We take whatever they’ve learned in there are four integral components of a simulated lecture in the didactic portion and have them learning experience: the educator or preceptor, apply it to a patient,” said Cannon. “For example, the student(s), key educational practices, and if they went over diabetes that day, after their the simulated environment.3 While simulation [pathophysiology] class, they have to come to the will never completely replace traditional lab prepared to take care of a diabetic patient.” clinical teaching approaches, schools across the country are finding innovative ways to integrate simulation into nursing education. Simulation at Platt College Platt College School of Nursing, Aurora, Colo., has incorporated simulation into every nursing course. Instructors present a variety of scenarios that teach students how to care for and respond to patients in unique situations. “The value of simulation is that it provides students a safe place to make mistakes and to learn,” said Annette Cannon, PhD, MSN, MA, RN, nursing faculty member and simulation coordinator at Platt College School of Nursing. “Students can be involved in a real-life situation and experience things they might not normally Platt College School of Nursing, Aurora, Colo., offers a full-scale simulation experience in the clinical area.” room for both adult and pediatric simulation. simulation Continued on C6 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0001-2092(13)00283-4 © AORN, Inc, 2013 April 2013 Vol 97 No 4 AORN Connections | C5  simulation Continued from C5 The diversity of simulations is designed to Cannon reports that student feedback has encourage students to focus on the big picture been overwhelmingly positive. Students have surrounding each patient and situation, rather expressed appreciation for the opportunity to than focusing on singular problems through gain a greater understanding through simulation a narrow lens. Instructors also have students experiences that allow them to feel more play a variety of roles, such as the laboratory comfortable in clinical situations. Simulation can technician or the physician, to keep students on also provide an acceptable alternative to clinical their toes and approach situations from a holistic practicum when resources are scarce. “Students perspective. Platt College has one high-fidelity learn teamwork and collaboration, and to them, and several low-fidelity simulation mannequins it’s very important to know they’re not alone for use within the simulation laboratory. Cannon in there,” said Cannon. “It’s been a really good reports that the simulation laboratory is always experience for them and a way to get experience in use and the students are getting as much that they might not ever get in an actual clinical training as possible out of the school’s simulation situation at a hospital.” Based on the success of resources. the program and the students’ receptiveness to the simulation exercises, the nursing program plans The students’ learning experiences are further to continue to expand its use of simulation. enhanced by the use of technology to extend simulation exercises outside of the simulation References laboratory. Cannon reports the use of an 1. Virtual reality: simulations play a major application called Reflection, which relays an role in educating tomorrow’s nurses. Johns iPad®’s screen from the simulation laboratory Hopkins Nursing Magazine. http://magazine. in real time back to an overhead projector in the nursing.jhu.edu/2011/07/virtual-reality/. classroom. This allows her to move freely about Accessed March 12, 2013. the laboratory while projecting information to 2. Aebersold M, Tschannen D, Bathish, M. the front of a classroom. Cannon also uses an Innovative simulation strategies in education. application on her iPad called Air Camera that Nurs Res Pract. 2012;2012:765212. allows her to connect to the Reflection application 3. Virginia Board of Nursing Guidance to provide audio and video to students in a Document #90-24. The use of simulation in distant classroom to show what’s happening nursing education. Virginia Department of in real time in the simulation laboratory. Health Professions. http://www.dhp.virginia. “Reflection is an innovative type of approach gov/nursing/guidelines/90-24_Patient%20 for cost-savings,” said Cannon. “There are some Simulation.doc. Accessed March 12, 2013. other ways to use it for PDFs and instruction, too, through connecting applications and I can Editor’s Note: iPad is a registered trademark of Apple easily record the lessons and flip the classroom. Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft However, I am using it to view and hear the PowerPoint is a registered trademark of Microsoft simulation scenarios in real time within the Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. classroom for the students who are observing through the mirroring that Reflection offers.” Connect with AORN Journal online! According to Cannon, the iPad is perfect for people who are just starting or setting up a Join us on Facebook, Twitter, or ORNurseLink to connect simulation laboratory because of its mobility, with colleagues and learn key perioperative insights. which allows a user to move around a room and capture different views of simulation exercises. Facebook: “The advantage is I can move my iPad around http://www.facebook.com/AORNJournal and get exactly where I want to show something on the sim mannequin or step back to show Twitter: the whole picture,” said Cannon. She also uses https://twitter.com/AORNJournal the iPad to show and teach the students active electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythms and administer ORNurseLink: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) http://www.ornurselink.org test questions through the overhead projector. 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