Fresh Way to Use Simulation in a Pharmacology Course

How to use simulation in a Pharmacology course where the focus is on the drugs not necessarily a clinical diagnosis? This is where what I call “mini-sim” is an ideal delivery system for allowing learners to practice in the lab what they learned in the classroom.??

What is a mini-sim?? Mini-sim is a brief simulation exercise that zeroes in on one concept.? Instead of having the learner perform a longer focused assessment, a brief, drug specific assessment is done.? For instance, if the learner is practicing administration of lanoxin, they? assess the patient’s pulse.

Set-up of a multiple mini-sim scenario is easy.? Follow these steps:

• ?Assign each learner a partner who acts as the patient.? Learners take turns as the patient during the sim so each one practices passing the medication.
• Make up armbands for identifying the patient.? These are easy to do, inexpensive and can be reused if desired. Party and dollar stores sell blank armbands and they can also be ordered online.? Each learner wears an armband. Allergy bracelets can be worn as well.
• Place a provider order at each station. Sample doctor’s order templates are available free online. I have included one in the templates below. The learner will refer to the provider order during the mini-sim.
• Provide a medication administration record (MAR). I have included my own template for you to use. Others are available free online and are simple to create.? Each learner will document on their own MAR.
• Have the learner perform any required assessment for the drug being given.? Example:? radial pulse for lanoxin.? Assessment results can be added to the MAR.
• Set up stations in the lab or the sim bay with a basket of labeled pills (vials, ampules, IV bags, etc) of the drug being given.? Provide supplies such as paper cups, water cups, (syringes, needles, alcohol wipes, cotton balls, flushes) according to the administration route. IV arms and injection pads are used for parenteral administration.
• Pre-brief the mini-sim as you would any other scenario.? Debrief is done when all students have completed the mini-sim.? Learners bring their MAR with them to debrief to discuss documentation as well as the sim itself.

Mini-sims are a great way to help learners master Nursing Pharmacology.? Most require only one facilitator, who circulates among each station, since this is essentially a self-directed activity.? Faculty have remarked that after participating in several of these mini-sim scenarios, the learners were better prepared to pass medication in the clinical setting.

Templates:

MAR Template

Provider Order Template

Please contact me at [email protected] for any questions or comments.?Sign up for my newsletter at ksokol.com Thank you.