Interprofessional Simulation: An Effective Training Experience for Health Care Professionals Working in Community Hospitals

BackgroundThis descriptive study measured the effectiveness of and participants' satisfaction with an interprofessional simulation education workshop as a teaching strategy for health care professionals.MethodHealth care professionals completed a 1-day clinical simulation workshop on interprofessional collaboration, after which they had the opportunity to fill out 4 evaluative instruments.ResultsOne hundred sixty-three participants completed the questionnaires. The majority were registered nurses (73.6%). Subscale scores were calculated for 3 of the instruments, with the mean ranging from 3.99 to 4.61 out of a possible maximum rating of 5. Content analyses of the participants' comments resulted in 6 themes: (a) simulation as a learning experience, (b) the learning environment, (c) interprofessional collaboration learning continuum, (d) cohesiveness, (e) adapting to change, and (f) improved patient outcomes.ConclusionsSimulation was highly rated as an effective teaching strategy for interprofessional collaboration. Staff expressed satisfaction with simulation as a teaching strategy.