Student-created scenarios in the human patient simulation lab

Abstract

<p>In recent years, there has been a great deal of interest in the use of human patient simulation (HPS) in nursing education. This presentation describes one novel approach for the use of this strategy, a project that involved the development of student-created scenarios in a baccalaureate nursing program. Over two semesters, small groups of students designed, developed, and implemented scenarios involving pediatric patient situations in the HPS laboratory. Students in the course were assigned to groups of six to eight students. Each group was given a pediatric-focused condition to research. The conditions were designed to complement classroom and clinical learning through the integration of situations that were unlikely to be experienced by students in the clinical setting or through supplementation of content covered in the classroom. The project was divided into phases. The first phase involved the researching of the assigned condition, including clinical manifestations and management (nursing and medical). In the second phase, students developed a draft of the scenario, including the identification of learning objectives and details such as scenario "actors" (patient, parent or significant other, healthcare providers) and scenario progression. At the conclusion of the project, students from each group implemented their scenarios in the HPS laboratory, with students from another group acting as participants. This project gave students the opportunity to interact with essential pediatric content in a unique way, as well as to have expanded pediatric clinical experiences in a safe, controlled environment. Qualitative data (in the form of student reflective papers) were collected and analyzed related to the challenges and benefits of this learning strategy. These data, as well as the perceptions of the faculty involved, will be presented.</p>