An Interprofessional Simulation Promoting Collaboration and Problem Solving among Nursing and Allied Health Professional Students

An interprofessional simulation was developed to improve collaboration and problem solving among nursing, radiologic technology, respiratory, and occupational therapy students. The learning objective of the simulation was to facilitate a mutual and professional respect among health care professionals in an educational setting that would be modeled in clinical practice. Instructors from each discipline collaborated on the learning objectives for the simulation. Each discipline specified the expectations and the perceived roles their student would have within the simulation. The simulation allowed students the opportunity to interact with each other to provide safe and effective care for a patient with multiple health care needs. The postsimulation debriefing allowed students to discuss how patient care was prioritized and coordinated by the health care team. The study results indicated that students felt the simulation provided for interdisciplinary team work and an environment that supported working in a clinical situation involving peers. Students reported that they were permitted to explore various paths of delivering patient care during the simulation and that independent problem solving was facilitated.