Interprofessional education using a simulated disaster exercise

Abstract

Abstract A simulated disaster exercise at a large community college in Toronto, Canada was an interprofessional exercise for students from health professions (nursing, and pharmacy technician) and emergency management programs (paramedics, pre-service fire, and police foundations). The objectives of this exercise were to provide students with an interprofessional learning experience and to allow students to practice their skills in a simulated disaster. The exercise was held over a 3-h period during the college's February 2019 study week. It consisted of multiple related scenarios revolving around a simulated bomb-blast in a high-rise apartment building. Students from the five programs worked alongside faculty and professionals from clinical partner sites, and students from the paramedic and nursing programs also participated in roles as victims. A debrief was conducted following the event. The event was evaluated with a survey that contained open-and closed-ended questions, and 47% of the students participated in the survey. Student participants reported a high level of satisfaction and 89% reported that it demonstrated the importance of interprofessional practice. Two themes arose from the student comments: collaborating with different professions, and learning about interprofessional roles. There is a need for follow-up to find out about the impact of this event on students’ future practice.