Blending interprofessional education and simulation learning: A mixed-methods study of an interprofessional learning experience with nursing and occupational therapy students

ABSTRACT

In aiming to train health professional students to collaborate in patient care settings, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception of registered nurse (RN) students and occupational therapy (OT) students jointly participating in an interprofessional education (IPE) patient simulation learning experience. Eighty-five RN and OT students engaged in a 3-hour IPE patient simulation in an acute care hospital setting. Each student participant completed a pre- and post-test data collection, assessing interprofessional socialization using the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS) Version 9A and provided qualitative feedback about their experience. Findings indicated a significant change in interprofessional socialization for RN and OT students after engaging in the IPE patient simulation learning experience. Furthermore, qualitative findings described the perceived benefits of IPE and collaboration, simulation as a learning tool, and areas for enhancing IPE patient simulation education for the future. Study findings have implications for using simulated IPE experiences with health professional students to foster interprofessional collaboration and socialization with the goal of delivering person-centered quality healthcare.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional education
• simulation
• collaboration
• socialization
• person-centered
• quality

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vicki L. Washington

Vicki L. Washington, MSN, RN, APRN, ACNS-BC is an instructor and tenure-track faculty at Eastern Michigan University (EMU). Professor Washington has practiced nursing for 41 years, 35 of the years in Acute Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. She is passionate about educating nurses and in the promotion of health in the nursing workforce (nursing students and nurses) through the practice of mindfulness and self-reflection to foster resilience to stress. She is an Interprofessional Education Scholar at EMU, board certified in Adult Health, and is a certified cognitive coach. She is currently pursing her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at EMU.

Andrea Zakrajsek

Andrea Zakrajsek, OT, MS, OTRL, FNAPis a Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Eastern Michigan University. Her research focuses on understanding and supporting older adults and people with disabilities in health and meaningful participation through interprofessional partnerships. Her scholarly work extends to developing and evaluating interprofessional education (IPE) approaches to train future health professionals, including occupational therapists. In 2018, she was inducted as a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice for her work.

Linda Myler

Linda Myler, DNP, RN, CHSE-A, CNE is an associate professor at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in the School or Nursing and co-director of Nursing and Interprofessional Simulation. She has been a nurse for over 25 years in  a variety of specialties including orthopedics, trauma and pain management. She is certified as an advanced healthcare simulation educator (CHSE-A) and as a nurse educator (CNE). She teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate program in her role at the college while participating in simulation scheduling, development and implementation. Her professional memberships include the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INASCL) and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). She also serves on the Interprofessional Steering Committee and the Nursing Simulation Task Force at EMU.

Kathleen Seurynck

Kathleen Seurynck, DNP, RN, CHSE, CNE is an association professor at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in the School of Nursing. She is co-director of the simulation center in Nursing and Interprofessional Education. Her specialty areas include thoracic surgery, pain management, and intensive care. Research interests include simulation, active learning and interprofessional education and practice. She serves on the Interprofessional Steering Committee and Midwest Interprofessional Practice, Education, and Research Center in Simulation. Certifications include Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), and Certified Coach. Her professional memberships include the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INASCL) and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH).

Sharon Holt

Sharon Holt, MHS, OTRLis a Full-Time Lecturer (FTL) and Intent Advisor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Eastern Michigan University (EMU). Her work at EMU includes providing instruction in adult and older adult assessment and intervention, movement analysis, and advising pre-occupational therapy students. She has participated in the development and delivery of multiple interprofessional education events for students in the health professions and was the recipient of the FTL Outstanding Teaching Award in 2016.

Joseph Scazzero

Joseph A. Scazzero, PhDis a Professor of Decision Sciences in the Department of Accounting and Finance at Eastern Michigan University. His research interests include experimental design, data science, and statistical quality control. His work experience includes the design and analysis of surveys while working at the United States Government Accountability Office and serving as a statistician/quality control engineer for Westinghouse on the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) radar program.