Designing Simulation Experiences for FNP Students

Using simulation as a teaching tool for nurse practitioner students allows faculty to provide an experience the student may not have in their clinical preceptorship.  It also allows the student to manage a “patient” in a safe situation where student mistakes won’t result in harm to a real patient.  One challenge in successful simulation experiences is designing the experiences to teach the concepts and behaviors desired while staying within the limits of the technology available.

Important factors to consider in choosing a case for a primary care focused FNP program include that the simulated case be one the students might encounter in a primary care practice.  Also desirable is a case that requires students to practice and interpret less familiar assessment skills.  It is important that the case be serious enough to require critical thinking in regards to treatment in the office and whether after treatment the patient goes home or needs admission to an acute care facility.  If the patient goes home, the case should require that the student provide prescriptions and follow-up education for the patient.  In terms of technology, the case must be amenable to simulation with the technology available.

The two simulations designed at the University for FNP’s are a simulation of an acute asthma exacerbation and a simulation of new onset atrial fibrillation.  The asthma case requires students to combine information from peak flow, pulse oximeter, vital signs, history and exam findings to stage the exacerbation and carry out a treatment plan.  The atrial fibrillation case was designed by a group of students after they experienced the asthma simulation.  This simulation required the students to read an EKG and combine that information with other history and exam findings.  It also had the advantage of being student centered, designed by a group of students for their colleagues.

A well-designed simulation is an active learning experience where students learn differently than they do from lecture or reading.   As better technology becomes widely available, designing appropriate simulations for nurse practitioner students becomes important for nurse practitioner faculty.