Simulation Reflection: Ten Junior Nursing Students

This essay is going to focus on the nursing skills that I developed during a period of placement simulations and in the community, placing emphasis on oral care, communication with a non-engaging patient and bed bath. It will outline the fundamental aspects of clinical nursing skills that I have begun to acquire. This will also highlight the learning processes which took place and how it helped me to enhance my knowledge, and ethical values in order to deliver quality and safety of care. Using other sources of current literature, I will use a reflective model to discuss how I have achieved the necessary level of learning outcome. By utilising this model I hope to demonstrate my knowledge and understanding in relation to these

Using simulation technology for healthcare education is not solely about interaction with the simulation mannequins themselves, but being put into an environment and situation that resembles what it would be like if the student were in an actual clinical setting. These types of environments are called simulation labs. Upon viewing a simulation lab, the physical set up closely resembles that of a hospital setting, yet there will be simulation mannequins instead of actual patients and a control room where the instructor will sit and monitor what happens during the simulations. According to Marcia K. Rothgeb, MSN, RN, in her article “Creating a Nursing Simulation Laboratory: A Literature Review”, the simulation lab enhances a student’s learning

John Keats once said, “Nothing ever becomes real 'til it is experienced.” (Goodreads Inc, 2009). Nursing is a profession that requires great expertise. To become an expert at anything, it takes a lot of hard work. It is important that nursing students gain expertise in patient care by providing direct care to real patients.

For the next simulation, I am hoping that I have improved my critical thinking skills in nursing to effectively perform whatever role I will have. Moreover, since simulations are actual situations in real life clinical settings that are being played out by the students, I will research on applicable evidenced based nursing intervention and applied it during the simulation. Applying this type of intervention during the simulation will reinforce my knowledge of effective nursing intervention and will enable me to acquire a more meaningful experience that could be applied in actual clinical setting. I will also try my very best to find out what possible equipment will be used in carrying out nursing care for a given clinical

Nursing simulation, a progressive method of education and utilized by nursing programs, improves patient outcomes by giving students opportunities to practice and learn new nursing skills in non-threatening environments. The use of simulation experiences origins hold root in the military and airline industries. Nevertheless, since that time, many academic interest groups, including medical and nursing education have adopted this educational method. Furthermore, anticipated is the idea that simulation experiences will allow students the opportunities they need to practice skill sets that will lead to the improvement of the patient’s condition. Additionally, an evaluation of the nursing simulation also serves an important role in determining the effectiveness of the activity in meeting the objectives of various nursing curricula. Completing, recording, and studying the outcomes of a methodical evaluation, such as a rubric, are foundational to the enhancement of both the procedure and results (Robinson & Dearmon, 2013). This capstone project specifically concentrates on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a rubric for nursing simulation scenarios conducted by baccalaureate level nursing students at WKU.

I felt that Simulation lab was a great advantage for us as nursing students. We were able to have a client that was actually able to respond to our actions and questions as if in a real scenario, and yet, we were still in a safe environment where we could make mistakes and learn from them. I feel it was extremely beneficial to able to provide professional criticism because it allowed the observers to critically think about what should be done next in regards to the patients care and also have the participants to learn what they could improve in regards to their patient care. The simulation lab was able to give us insight into a realistic situation and therefore we were able to see how we would react and think in that type of situation. I

The simulation exercise presented a complex situation when Charge Nurse Janice didn’t have enough nurses in her unit and the VP of Support Services called and her about the scheduled meeting. At the start of the shift, she responded unprofessionally to the situation by giving directions to the staff while on a personal call and reacting negatively to any patient update provided by the staff. Janice also created a bad impression to Elise, the new nurse, when she asked about her assignment. Janice addressed the patients’ names with the procedures they had. Knowing that there was a situational problem, Janice should have communicated properly and emphasized to the staff about teamwork to facilitate the workflow in the unit. Elise is new and inexperienced, but Janice could have utilized her help with basic tasks as long as she had been directed and coached properly.

Anything… the word I professed some time ago. I prayed the prayer that I would do anything. The woman who tends to always be in a state of trepidation, prayed that she would do anything for Him. From that one word, many plans surfaced. I had hoped that it was just spontaneous thoughts and that they did not mean anything. Among the list, was the idea of becoming a nurse. It was an outlandish notion. How on earth could I be a nurse? Somehow that random thought has turned into a reality. I am currently striving toward one of my “anythings”. I know that my current situation is definitely not by my own doing and that He has been continually opening doors. It has not been an easy road. Thoughts of doubt, negative

My role for this simulation was to act as a family member of the patient. When the nurses went into the room, the patient just came back from a procedure. The patient stated that during the procedure, he was having light headed, feeling woozy and sweaty. The patient told the nurse that he did not finish all of his breakfast before the procedure. During my role, I asked to the nurse why the patient is having lightheaded, feeling woozy and sweaty. The nurses tested the patient’s blood sugar and did a vital. The patient blood sugar was low and below normal. I asked the nurses what does below normal mean. The nurses gave me an explanation and further discuss ways to help patients manage diabetes.

Creating and implementing a high fidelity patient simulation lab for about 4,000 nurses working at XXXXXX. This program will provide nurses working at XXXXXX with a supportive and safe learning environment to ensure they are providing safe, effective, knowledgeable care to the patients they care for.

During the simulation I needed to make quick decisions on what to do and how to help. I was the float nurse during the simulation so my job was to help any of the other nurse, staff. There were several times during the simulation that a child was crying or screaming so I had to think on my feet to help them. One example was when I was helping patient number 3, she has started to choke so I held her up so that her nurse, Rylie, was able to suction her without problem. After we suctioned her she stopped crying and seemed to be less irritated. When helping with patient 1 I need to explain to her how to use an incentive spirometry. She is only 7 years old so I needed to explain how to use it at an appropriate level. I used to colors to help explain and let her tough it to help her feel comfortable. During the simulation I was jumping from room to room helping the patient and nurses so I need to keep my prioritizes organized and help the nurses as much as I could.

For years nurses have gained experience in the medical field through clinical rounds at hospitals and doctors offices. Learning has always taken place first through textbooks and then through personal experience during required clinical time. These methods have proven effective but include limitations to the amount of exposure a student can gain before entering the workforce. A new way of learning is on the rise with the use of High Fidelity Simulations (HFS) or the Sim Man. HFS is a computerized life size manikin that simulates real human responses to treatment. This new technology allows students to practice rare procedures or treat common diagnoses.

We hope our project does not encounter any delay. If it is the case, we will have to create a plan to solve that matter. We want to be ready for the upcoming Medical States University September class 2015, to integrate fully simulation education in the curriculum.

Upon arriving at Hays Medical Center, my classmates and I met on the third floor for preconference. I grabbed a computer and logged into my client’s chart to see if there were any new orders. I had no new orders. In conference, we were to give report on our patient. My client was a young male in for a bowel resection due to an obstruction. After giving report, I met up with my senior two, Brendell. We proceeded down to the acute floor. I found my client’s room and waited for report from my nurse. I went ahead and introduced myself to my patient and explained to him that I would be helping today, that if he needed anything he should hesitate to ask. I went forward with my bedside assessment, making sure to do everything

Sometimes failure can really be the best teacher. This was the case with the Lakeview Regional Hospital Simulation Exercise. During the simulation, I learned a lot about working with a team, knowing when to stand firm and when to compromise. I have been a part of plenty of projects, but sometimes I can be a little lost when it comes to the healthcare aspects of things. It was during these times that I looked to my teammates to assist with filling in some valuable blanks about the healthcare environment. I do have a lot of experience with introducing technology, training and media relations. It was during these parts of the simulation that I could really lend a helping hand. The simulation illustrated the importance of buy-in amongst the implementation team as well as other members of the entire organizations. It showed that there will always be some inherent resistance, but that doesn’t mean that change is impossible as long as there is some flexibility.