The transfer of interprofessional learning to the clinical environment following a high-fidelity simulation experience in undergraduate nursing and medical students: A curricular resource

Abstract

The incorporation of simulation into interprofessional education is an important tool to strengthen teamwork, communication skills, and student's understanding of their roles and responsibilities in an interprofessional team. This curricular resource describes a one-time, Basic Life Support interprofessional simulation experience developed for third year medical and senior nursing students that occurred throughout an academic year. Students were given a modified version of the revised Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey within one week following the experience. Thirty days after participation, students were sent another survey designed for reflection on their clinical experience following the interprofessional simulation. Learning objectives were met as improvements in the Communication and Roles and Responsibility domains were noted. Multiple themes emerged from the 30-day survey surrounding clinical experiences including awareness of the importance of communication and roles, the use of Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, and closed-loop communication. Overall, students improved their short-term perceptions of interprofessional skills and transferred learning experiences from the simulation lab to the clinical environment after a 30-day period following a single interprofessional simulation experience.