Using Simulation to Reinforce Management of Emergencies in the School Health Setting

Purpose: This session is designed to help nurses’ increase their assessment skills to manage a variety of acute and chronic disorders. Physical exam findings indicating potentially severe illness in children will be reviewed. Essential components of multiple systems-focused exams will be presented. Sim Junior, a high fidelity interactive simulation mannequin will be utilized to demonstrate potentially severe illnesses in children. Participants will be invited to join an interactive question and answer session using technology at the conclusion of the presentation. The purpose of this teaching modality was to introduce certified school nurse/pediatric NP and undergraduate students to potential emergency scenarios in order to improve critical thinking skills and clinical judgment. Evidence demonstrates students’ knowledge improves with active learning experiences.

Methods: School nurse based common emergency simulations were created by a Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist, which increased the reality of the simulations. These simulations were incorporated into the assessment of the school-aged child/adolescent course in the school nurse certification program. Simulations were designed based on curricular needs and clinical experiences that were deemed essential: anaphylaxis, hypoglycemia, drug overdose, and respiratory distress. The simulations provided not only opportunities for “reality” for the students but also for the faculty to provide debriefing/feedback to the students.

Results: Student feedback regarding the simulations was requested at the completion of the course. All school nurse students participated in the simulations. Students reported increased confidence in their ability to use clinical judgement, critical thinking, and communication to manage pediatric emergencies. As many school nurses practice independently in their school, the degree to which the critical thinking skills and communication of novice school nurses improved is vital to the well-being of the children they serve.

Conclusion: Simulations will continue to be part of the school nurse curriculum. Exposure to common pediatric emergencies in a safe simulation environment allowed school nurse candidates to develop necessary skills. Simulation should be used to expose students and nurses to new health care challenges as they appear in the school environment.