Hours of Simulation In 4 year Nursing Degree Program

[pennym]

As always , one has to justify why there is a need to increase simulation actitivies within a Nursing Program. I would like to hear from other Faculties of Nursing as to how many hours each student receives in simulation within a four year program. Our faculty has 1500 students and one simulator. We are in the process of expanding but need to offer rationales as to why we need to expand. The most important rationale I can think of is comparing what others are doing with simulation to enhance the educational experience and increase patient safety. I look forward to hearing from you.
Penny MacDonald
Simulation Coordinator Fauclty of Nursing
University of Alberta

[Amanda]

Hi Penny,

I have voted but wanted to give you a link to the UK regulatory authority for nursing or NMC that comissioned research to explore the use of simulation in pre-reg education, up to Nov 2007 all pre-reg in the UK had to do 2300 theory hours and 2300 direct patient care hours to qualify - following the research conducted by 13 pilot sites with over 6000 students involved - the NMC issued a position statement that up to 300 of the 2300 direct patient hours can be used in simulation - there are some criteria but the report and more information can be found at -


http://www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2972

Take care, Amanda

[pennym]

This is very enlightening. I appreciate the article and information.

[kmartin]

Penny,

You do have a problem...1500 students and 1 simulator! Oh My! Justification can include the many possibilities of use. Not only simulated clinical experiences but also the non-traditional uses such as instructional enhancement in the classroom, tutoring, remediation (both clinical and content). Here is how we are using simulation (although it is not in a 4 year program, it is an ADN program).
Simulated clinical experiences--small groups of students simulating what happens in clinical for a patient tailored to enhance classroom lecture content.
Simulation in the Classroom--using the simulator to teach content interactively in the classroom
Tutoring--specified content areas brought to life for groups of millenial learners...they come on their own or are mandated but it works.
Remediation--students having difficulty thinking critically through the content or who are having difficulty with clinical performance/clinical critical thinking are given intensive simulated patients

I know it is out of the nursing program arena, but there is a really great article out there from Dartmouth Hartford Medical Center in the Staff Development journal about learning with simulation in a Nurse Residency program. This could help you to 'sell' the leadership.

Being a 4 year institution, you probably have avenues for research so you might try finding a HRSA grant--get the funding then move toward expansion.

Finally, ask the students...enrollment is everything and when students demand something by positive feedback and endorsement it usually happens.

Hope all this helps, Kim Martin, DBC

[HuskerRN]

Penny,
We have 450 students and three simulators--I don't know how you do it! Our students get 20 hours in their regular courses and then have opportunities for more with their elective choices. Simulation is in every nursing course, with 1-5 patient interactions in the courses, and students just want more. My problem is that I need more of me. We could triple our use if we had two more people!

Good luck!
Kim

Kim Leighton, PhD, RN, CNE
Dean of Instructional Technology
BryanLGH College of Health Sciences
5035 Everett Street
Lincoln, NE 68506
402-481-8713
kim.leighton@bryanlgh.org

[ChristianBam]

Hi :o



:cool: This is very enlightening. I appreciate the article and thanks for this information:):)

[Debbie]

:) I am glad for the reference. I had heard it at HPSN but didn't get the details. We have a 4 semester ADN program and we have simulation across the curriculum in all courses that have a clinical component (4). We have 52 hours of simulation which included 26 different patient encounters (sce's). I am now looking at expanding to included some of the activities that Kim listed in a previous posting. We have an enrollment of approximately 200 students and have 2 high fidelity manikins and a low fidelity pediatric and baby manikin. Debbie

[Rabibu]

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