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Inserting an intravenous catheter is the most challenging and complex skill taught in nursing school. Simulators provide opportunity for students to practice and perfect skills in a safe non-threatening environment while making errors without harm or discomfort to a patient. Haptic IV simulators allow students to practice IV procedures repeatedly on complex patients while developing proficiency and critical learning skills. Cooperative learning is a form of active learning and is defined as the instructional use of small groups of students working together in order to complete a task or goal. In this research project nursing students worked together in cooperative groups to complete the task of learning how to insert an IV using the haptic IV simulator.
Methods:
A 2 X 3 split plot related measure ANOVA with the between subjects factor of timing of the simulation with two levels (BEFORE or AFTER lab skills day) and the within subjects related factor of ordinal position with 3 levels (1st, 2nd or 3rd individual to attempt the simulation) evaluated the differences on the initial numerical score received on the IV simulator. Students were randomly assigned to the BEFORE or AFTER group and randomized a second time to their within group ordinal position during their simulated activity. After completing an orientation on the simulator, the nursing student entered the IV simulator and completed their initial attempt. Each group of three students worked together to individually complete the task. Within group members were encouraged to give suggestions, feedback and support to their group during their individual simulation.
Results:
Results indicated that student’s ordinal position was significant when learning together and accounted for more than 41% of the variances: Ordinal Position F (1.765, 28.245) = 12.071, p < .001, Ɲ2 = .416. Bonferoni post hoc pairwise tests indicated that the individual who attempted the simulation second learned as a result of observing the first individual to attempt the simulation. The third individual in the group also learned as a result of observing the first individual to attempt the simulation. However in this research, there was no statistically significant difference for the third individual who attempted the simulation learning as a result of observing the second individual. The timing of the simulation and interaction were not significant in this research.
Conclusion:
Individuals learn together by working in small cooperative groups. Cooperative groups provide the opportunity to discuss and work though problems. Group members are accountable and they must actively participate in order for individual and group success. Learning together has implications for all health care providers, faculty and students. Using simulated environments along with learning together is applicable to many areas of healthcare. Simulated environments provide safe experiences for student nurses who are currently losing clinical sites and it could be beneficial for teams of providers while practicing emergency procedures. Using simulated environments could also be useful for providing opportunities for inter-professional collaboration and research. Future research would include replication or working with cooperative groups while using other types of simulators or technology.