Integration of Interprofessional Education and Culture into Advanced Practice Simulations

BackgroundInterprofessional education and culture are often taught independently. Students are not afforded the opportunity to practice these competencies before engaging in clinical practice.MethodGraduate family nurse practitioner (FNPs), athletic training, and physical therapy students (N = 108) participated in uniquely developed advanced practice, culturally competent interprofessional simulations.ResultsThe Cultural Awareness Scale revealed that FNPs became more comfortable interacting with diverse patients. Critical reflection essays and clinical case analysis supported that FNPs are becoming culturally competent. On the Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale athletic training, and physical therapy students felt team collaborations were poor but shared leadership was valued; the FNP data was just the opposite.ConclusionThis initiative was successful in simultaneously incorporating interprofessional education and culture in simulation; however, the students' varying experiences influenced outcomes.