AI is everywhere these days. It’s hard to avoid at least one daily conversation about AI “taking over the world.” Maybe 2025 will be the year you finally dive into AI—it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. But if you’re short on time or unsure where to begin, don’t worry. Here are 10 practical ideas to get you started with AI in your simulation lab. Start by setting up a free account. A few of my favorites among the several large language models (LLMs) include Chat GPT, Perplexity, and Claude.
1. Create Realistic Patient Scenarios
A realistic patient name, age, family history, and background can be jumpstarted in seconds. Give your AI platform of choice a prompt such as:
“I am creating a patient scenario for a nursing simulation. Please develop a detailed patient background with the following characteristics:
- Age, Gender, and Demographics: [Include specifics, e.g., “45-year-old female, lives in a rural area.”]
- Chief Complaint: [Describe the primary reason for seeking care, e.g., “complaints of shortness of breath and chest pain.”]
- Medical History: [List relevant medical history, e.g., “history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.”]
- Social History: [Provide social context, e.g., “lives alone, works as a teacher, occasional smoker, drinks socially.”]
- Current Medications: [Specify medications the patient is taking, e.g., “Metformin, Lisinopril,” or ask AI to provide a med list appropriate for the patient condition]
- Vital Signs: [Provide a baseline or ask for AI-generated vitals, e.g., “BP: 140/90, HR: 92, RR: 20, Temp: 98.6°F.”]
- Additional Details if needed for the particular course: [Include other considerations like emotional state, support systems, or family history, e.g., “recently divorced, limited access to healthcare.”]
Please ensure the scenario is realistic and appropriate for undergraduate nursing students. Add any specific cultural or ethical considerations relevant to the case.”
You can refine the case bit by bit and ask AI to help you generate lab results commonly found in this patient population. Then, ask AI to generate a medication list using the Physician’s Desk Reference as a guide to determine appropriate doses, etc.
PRO TIPS: Don’t ask for too many details in one request. It’s better to segment the request into smaller pieces to get the best results. If you aren’t satisfied with the initial response, explain what is not working for you and ask for it to be regenerated!
Be sure to verify the results with a subject matter expert because LLM can sometimes “hallucinate” and provide incongruent or incorrect information.
2. Design Posters with Canva AI
Canva’s free version offers AI tools for creating visually appealing posters and graphics. These posters can be used to share messages, update students, or post behavior expectations for the simulation lab.
3. Generate Quick-Start Equipment Guides
Have you misplaced your equipment user manual? Would faculty unfamiliar with the sim lab have time to read it if it weren’t lost? Download the product PDF from the manufacturer's website and give it to your AI platform with a request to provide a one-page summary of basic use. After proofreading for clarity and accuracy, print it, laminate it, and store it next to the equipment. Enjoy your scheduled day off, knowing that you will have fewer calls starting with “I’m sorry to call you on your day off, but…”
4. Create Forms for Reporting Issues
Wouldn’t being alerted to broken sim equipment or low supplies be great? Here is a prompt I just used:
Create a Google form that I can use to have people in the sim lab report broken equipment or supplies that have run out.
Here are the results:
Google Form Setup
Title:
Simulation Lab Issue Reporting Form
______
Description:
“Use this form to report broken equipment, missing or depleted supplies, or any other issues in the simulation lab. This helps us ensure the lab is always ready for use. Thank you for your help!”
______
Form Fields
- Reporter Name (Short Answer)
“Please enter your name.”
- Date of Report (Date Field)
“Select the date you noticed the issue.”
- Type of Issue (Multiple Choice)
- Broken equipment
- Depleted supplies
- Other (please specify)
- Equipment or Supply Name (Short Answer)
“Enter the name or description of the item that is broken or missing.”
- Location of Issue (Dropdown)
- Simulation Lab 1
- Simulation Lab 2
- Supply Closet
- Other (please specify)
- Detailed Description of the Issue (Paragraph Text)
“Describe the problem in detail (e.g., what is broken, how it is broken, quantity of supplies needed, etc.).”
- Is Immediate Action Required? (Multiple Choice)
- Yes
- No
- Attach a Photo (Optional) (File Upload)
“Upload a photo of the broken equipment or empty supply area, if possible.”
- Contact Information (Optional) (Short Answer)
“Provide your email or phone number in case we need more details.”
_______
Form Submission Settings
- Turn on Email Notifications for New Responses (via Google Sheets if linked).
- Enable the Confirmation Message:
“Thank you for reporting the issue. Our team will address it as soon as possible.”
_______
How to Share the Form
- Click the Send button in the top-right corner.
- Share via link (shorten URL option is available) or QR code (use a free QR generator).
- Post the link in visible lab areas, staff emails, or bulletin boards for easy access.
5. Polish your Learning Objectives
Ask your AI editor pal (I call her Mrs. Davis) to review your learning objectives and revise them as needed for clarity, making sure they are in the SMART goal format and follow Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy.
6. Analyze your Sim Lab Data
If you have been collecting sim-use data (which you should be), you now have a friend who can generate a meaningful summary to present at your next department meeting…and especially at the next budget meeting! AI is great at recognizing data trends. You can see when the lab is being used at peak capacity, which courses are your best “customers,” how the supplies are being used (and the dramatic increase in price over the past couple of years). You can summarize the students’ evaluations of the simulation-based activities and look at the data from the broken equipment form we made in #4 above. Simply drag and drop the spreadsheet with the data into your AI chat and ask for an analysis. Then, ask specific follow-up questions to get even more insights.
PRO TIP: Please DO NOT provide sensitive data to your AI platform, especially if you are using the free version. All of that information is fair game for the platform to use to “become smarter.” Be sure to comply with your Institution’s specific FERPA rules and remove any student-specific information before data analysis. If you are unsure, ASK!
7. Develop Sim Policies and Procedures
Just like in #5, Mrs. Davis is a marvel at helping you get a jump on that Sim Lab Policy guide you have been putting off because staring at a blank page is so daunting. Start by asking for assistance in coming up with a table of contents. Then, ask for help expanding on one section at a time.
8. Create Escape Room Clues
If you are a fan of escape rooms and really want to try your hand at creating one, I have a treat for you! AI is really creative in helping you tie together your escape room clues. Let it know what you have available as a lock (e.g., a 4-number lock) and what your escape room theme is.
Prompt Sample:
“I am designing a healthcare escape room scenario with an archeology theme. The participants are undergraduate nursing students, and the learning objective is to deepen their understanding of chronic diseases, specifically diabetes. I need a creative and engaging clue for a 4-digit lock (numbers only) that ties the theme and learning objective together. The clue should:
- Integrate the archeology theme: (e.g., ancient artifacts, digging, codes, or puzzles).
- Relate to diabetes education: (e.g., key symptoms, blood sugar ranges, or management strategies).
- Encourage problem-solving: (e.g., decoding, calculating, or interpreting).
Please provide the clue text, any necessary instructions for participants, and the correct answer (4-digit code), with a brief explanation of how to solve it.”
Again, make sure the output makes sense, and if it doesn’t make sense the first time, give further instructions to refine the work until you’re satisfied.
- Prioritize Your Tasks
Are you overwhelmed with setting up and taking down overlapping simulations? Provide AI with your to-do list, deadlines, space requirements, and any other details that make it a logistical nightmare. It will suggest an efficient task sequence in the blink of an eye! If only you could complete them as quickly…
- Brainstorm Buddy.
Aside from my business partner, Mrs. Davis has become a reliable, go-to brainstorming buddy. It’s definitely an iterative process, including providing feedback on the results—what I like about some answers and which replies are not even close to what I am looking for. With that feedback, the AI can better understand what you are seeking. For example, the title of this blog post was created with the help of my trusty assistant, Mrs. Davis!
Final Thoughts
AI can extend your workday by automating repetitive tasks and helping you work smarter. With a bit of practice and patience, AI becomes a valuable partner in the simulation lab. Remember to double-check outputs for accuracy and work within your institution’s guidelines.
