History of Simulation in Nursing
Nursing simulations are teaching methods that use realistic scenarios and hands-on interactive exercises to replicate clinical experiences. While shadowing another nurse can offer hands-on experiences for students, it can also cause patient discomfort and inconsistencies in learning. This is why Nursing Simulations have created a more comfortable and rounded education for Nursing Students. Sim2Grow helps to move the evolution of teaching nurses forward.
What existed before nursing simulations
Before simulation-based learning, student nurses learned by watching and assisting more experienced nurses and then performing the procedure themselves on actual patients. Basically, it was apprenticeship and on-the-job training. This may have been an accepted practice in the infancy of healthcare, but it was recognized that it needed to be leveled up!
The Introduction of Simulation in Nursing Education
Simulation in nursing education started with rudimentary simulators introduced as new procedures were used in patient care. For example, a piece of fruit (the noble orange comes to mind) was often used as an injection task trainer. “Mrs. Chase,” from the early 1910s, was the first “life-sized” doll used in nursing programs to simulate a patient for positioning and basic skills such as bathing, dressing wounds, etc.
The role Sim2Grow hopes to play moving forward
Sim2Grow is dedicated to helping educators provide realistic training for the critical skill of safe medication administration. Medication errors are a leading cause of patient harm in hospitals. As a result, many clinical sites restrict clinical instructors from passing medications with students during clinical rotations, which reduces hands-on experience.
With Sim2Grow, students can repeatedly practice medication administration in a safe lab environment. This allows them to learn from their mistakes in a controlled setting and avoid errors once they graduate, making everyone safer.
What is the history of nursing simulation?
Before nursing simulations were implemented, how were nurses taught things like med pass and med administration?
In the past, simulating medication administration practice was straightforward for nurse educators. However, introducing the Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) in the early 2000s and automated dispensing cabinets for unit dose dispensing have created new challenges. Using a paper Medication Administration Record (MAR) and drawers from an old nursing home medication cart in the practice lab no longer mirrors the clinical environment that students will encounter.
Unfortunately, the complex technology used in hospitals was neither affordable nor practical for training environments. As a result, we continued teaching with outdated paper MARs, sometimes using a spare barcode scanner. Students mimicked the process by saying “beep beep” and reciting the steps instead of performing them in the practice lab. Educators had to rely on clinical site exposure to reinforce this critical skill adequately.
Anatomical models
Low-fidelity manikin models like Mrs. Chase have been around for quite a while. They are a much safer and ethically acceptable way for student nurses to practice than on actual patients! With every passing year, human patient simulator manikins have more features, making them realistic replicas for preparing students before caring for hospitalized patients.
https://www.sim2grow.com/en-us/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-different-simulations-in-nursing
Less technologically-savvy processes
Many DIY simulation solutions are simple… yet still able to meet learning objectives. Creative educators willing to try and test their solutions have enhanced student experiences over the years. Often, the rudimentary innovations end up being the first iterations of today’s standard simulation equipment.
What were the pain points in teaching nurses that led to this development in the curriculum?
In the past, when learning the steps of a safe med pass, nursing students often received mixed messages, leading to confusion. In the practice lab, phrases like “this isn’t exactly how they do it nowadays in the hospital” and “just pretend” were commonly heard. Students new to the process had to imagine what they should do instead of gaining the hands-on experience needed to build muscle memory. This situation understandably led to confusion and increased the likelihood of errors. Educators were also frustrated because they were searching for an elusive tool. They spent countless hours trying to jerry-rig something close to the experience to give students adequate practice before they cared for patients.
Is simulation-based learning the “way of the future?”
Simulation-based learning is the “way of the future.” It is no longer acceptable that the first time a nurse performs a procedure is on an actual patient. Practicing in the simulation lab beforehand allows them to go into the procedure with confidence and experience. This eases the nerves of the nurse and the patient, making for a much smoother process.
Do you expect any other changes?
Realism will likely increase further as simulation-based learning technologies advance, creating new opportunities for measuring learner skill progression. Augmented and virtual reality with immersive and haptic feedback are some technologies that may bring changes. Manikins' ability to move their extremities and leverage AI to be more conversational will allow learners to have more buy-in when participating in simulations.
Benefits of Nursing Simulation
- Enhanced Safety and Ethical Training: Simulation provides a safe and ethically sound way for students to practice nursing skills, reducing the risk of harm to actual patients and eliminating ethical concerns.
- Hands-On Experience in a Controlled Environment: Students can repeatedly practice procedures like medication administration in a simulated setting, allowing them to learn from mistakes without endangering patients.
- Improved Realism and Technology Integration: Modern simulators and manikins closely replicate real patient scenarios, incorporating advanced technologies such as Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) and automated dispensing cabinets, better-preparing students for the clinical environment.
- Consistency in Training: Simulation-based learning offers a standardized method of instruction, ensuring that all students receive the same level of training and experience, thus reducing variability and potential confusion.
- Bridging the Gap Between Classroom and Clinical Practice: Simulation allows students to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills, fostering muscle memory and confidence before encountering patients.
- Adaptability to Technological Advances: Simulation technology offers new opportunities for measuring learner skill progression and integrating immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality.
- Reduced Reliance on Clinical Site Exposure: With restrictions on medication administration practice in clinical sites, simulation provides an alternative method for students to gain essential hands-on experience, making them better prepared for real-world clinical settings.
https://www.sim2grow.com/en-us/blog/top-5-reasons-to-use-simulation-in-nursing-education
How Can Sim2Grow Help?
Benefits of Sim2Grow:
- Sim2Grow is dedicated to helping educators provide realistic training for the critical skill of safe medication administration.
- Many clinical sites restrict clinical instructors from passing medications with students during clinical rotations, reducing hands-on experience.
- With Sim2Grow, students can repeatedly practice medication administration in a safe lab environment.
- This allows students to learn from their mistakes in a controlled setting and avoid errors once they graduate.
- This practice enhances overall safety for both students and patients.
Conclusion
Why is nursing simulation a vital development in the teaching of future nurses?
- Enhanced Preparedness: Addresses limitations of traditional models by offering repeated, hands-on practice.
- Higher Quality Care: Prepares students for real-world complexities, leading to safer, higher quality patient care.
The role Sim2Grow hopes to play as nursing education continues to evolve and expand.
- Leading Innovation: Provides an advanced simulation tool focused on the critical skill of medication administration.
- Supporting Educators: Dedicated to Helping faculty integrate high-fidelity simulations into curricula.
