Interprofessional virtual simulation to promote leadership and patient advocacy skills in pharmacy and nursing students

Abstract

This curricular resource describes an educational opportunity to develop leadership and patient advocacy skills between pharmacy and nursing students through a virtual interprofessional simulation. This format selected was a virtual simulation as it is an increasingly popular teaching tool during the current health climate and can be applied to teach the interprofessional skills of leadership, patient advocacy, understanding the role of other professions, and interprofessional communication. The activity's objective was to increase student self-perception in confidence of leadership ability, patient advocacy skills, understanding the role of other professions, and interprofessional communication skills through an interprofessional leadership and patient advocacy focused simulation activity. To measure these four items, students self-rated their confidence level in these items in a pre- and post-survey. Thirty-six second-year pharmacy students and thirty-seven senior nursing students participated in the experience and completed both the pre and post surveys. Student self-rating increased in all four items. Additionally, all post survey respondents remarked that they would recommend this experience to future students. Participation in an interprofessional virtual simulation between pharmacy and nursing students focused on leadership development and patient advocacy demonstrated a statistically significant increase in students' confidence in their ability of leadership, patient advocacy skills, understanding the other profession's role, and interprofessional communication. The experience provides an engaging and effective method to teach students these vital skills within an interprofessional team.