Utilizing Pediatric Simulation to Demonstrate Competency in Quality and Safety

Schools of nursing have adopted Concept Based Curriculum (CBC) which has resulted in the removal of a separate pediatric course. Instead content is threaded into the curriculum. Students are missing the opportunity to practice and develop pediatric clinical reasoning and decision making skills when didactic is not followed up in practice. Students have also reported high anxiety and stress during their pediatric clinical rotation, which has also contributed to the lack of skill development. Students are more focused on their fears of making mistakes in clinical, which in turn hinders their ability to learn and develop their skills. Research has shown that simulated experiences provide students with the opportunity to practice higher level skills before entering practice. High-fidelity patient simulation is an evidenced based and innovative approach. Students practice high risk skills, such as medication administration, to increase their self-confidence, demonstrate competency in quality and safety and bridge the theory-practice-gap. Key stakeholders and resources from QSEN will guide the development of scenarios to ensure the simulations reflect current practice and are in line with the recommended IOM guidelines. Students will exhibit competency in the six areas identified by QSEN by demonstration of appropriate knowledge and skills for competency completion. Volunteers from the community will participate as actors to play key roles in various family dynamics and students from other majors will participate to promote inter-professional collaboration. Evaluation of learning is measured during post-simulation debriefing with the Seattle University Simulation Evaluation Tool. This tool measures student’s behaviors in assessment, critical thinking, patient care, communication and professionalism. Students will also have the opportunity to measure their satisfaction and self-confidence using the Student Satisfaction and Self Confidence in Learning Tool recommended by the NLN. Then, a nationally standardized examination will be administered at the end of the program to assess student learning outcomes related to pediatric content.