Online Simulation of a Root Cause Analysis for Graduate Health Administration Students

Despite increasing online learning popularity, this environment poses special challenges. Online teaching/learning lacks opportunities to teach interpersonal skills necessary for “real life” careers in healthcare administration. Connected synchronously, 14 graduate students including four registered nurses, all provided a role within the simulated root cause analysis team, were able to analyze a sentinel event followed by a debriefing that utilized the PEARLS methods and a submitted reflective assignment. These students expressed much satisfaction with this exercise, finding new insight and experience in this meaningful learning exercise.