Simulation Standards Development: An Idea Inspires . . .

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed the birth of a unique organization, its development and exponential growth, and at present, its quest for excellence in the field of simulation. The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), at the suggestion of its membership in 2009, is meeting the challenge of establishing performance standards for simulation in health care education. The multiphase process of developing standards for simulation was promptly undertaken by INACSL’s board of directors. Within a year, seven standards were proposed, discussed, and drafted for presentation to the general membership at the annual INACSL conference in June 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This narrative is a summary of the process and procedures undertaken by the board of directors and general membership. Consensus was an important aspect of the board’s discussions about creating standards for simulation. Deciding what format to use for simulation standards was the first order of business. The board considered several options from other nursing organizations and ultimately decided on the format used by the American Society of PostAnesthesia Nurses. This selected format includes the statement of the standard, the rationale for the standard, the outcomes expected from following the standard, and the criteria necessary to meet the standard. A bibliography was compiled, and a reference list was included at the end of each written standard. Each board member was requested to make a list of simulation concepts that should be included as standards. INACSL president Kim Leighton, PhD, RN, then used a modified Delphi method to determine priority foci. A secondary concern evolved from this process, and that was to distinguish between standards and guidelines. Subsequently, Dr. Leighton asked the board to respond to a virtual