Paper
Tuesday, November 6, 2007

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This presentation is part of : Nursing Education Issues
Collaborative Partnership between Medical and Nursing Faculty Utilizing Standardized Patients
Mary E. Bowen, CRNP, DNS, JD, CNAA, Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA and Kathleen Jackson, CRNP, MSN, Nursing, Thomas Jefferson Univesity, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Learning Objective #1: Identify one multidisciplinary collabortive partnership teaching effort utilizing standardized patients in graduate nursing health assessment.
Learning Objective #2: Discuss one benefit this collaborative partnership between medical school faculty and graduate nursing faculty.

1)     purpose: A systems model of collaboration was utilized to create a power-sharing partnership between the Nursing School Faculty and Medical School Faculty for teaching physical assessment to NP students. Standardized patients (SPs), human resources, and classrooms used by the medical college for teaching second year medical students assessments are being used for teaching, evaluation and assessment of NP students.

2)     Methodology of intervention: A systems model of collaboration developed in this collaborative teaching effort. A transforming 1) Educational Process utilizing 2) medical and nursing faculty partners, created a power-sharing Partnership, for 3) improved Practice Outcomes in NP students.

3)     Implementation: Nursing faculty desired quality education for NP students in health assessment classes.  This required supportive educational leadership within the larger University system for the collaboration between the medical college and the nursing school faculty.  Sufficient human resources and a commitment to collaborate are necessary for a successful outcome.

4)     Education strategy: Nursing faculty found that advantages of standardized patients are: validity, reliability, availability, controllability, adaptability, no risk, immediate and constructive feedback from SPs.  The SP will not vary from student to student.  Nurse Practitioner students are receiving same assessment education as the medical student in the class room.  Standardized patients evaluate the NP students and are utilized for teaching assessment skills. The SP completes a comprehensive checklist of each skill completed by the student. 

5)     Evaluation: This collaborative partnership in the use of SPs from the medical college represents a partnership between medical college faculty and nursing faculty in providing cost effective, realistic instruction. Ninety seven percent of medical colleges use SPs for instruction, 85% for assessment, 72% for advancement and progression, and 49% for a final comprehensive examination.  This collaboration has provided congruency between medical education and nursing education and has improved clinical performance of NP students.