Proposal

What educational benefits will be received by the students, faculty?

Students are able to practice in a safe environment and will be able to be a part of situations which might prove to be too risky in the actual clinical setting. Students have an opportunity to work in the role of the nurse without the instructor guiding them along the way. They can be challenge to react appropriately during stressful situations, drawing upon concepts and critical thinking strategies they are unable to demonstrate through written examinations.

Faculty can use the simulated activities to amplify and magnify concepts learned in class, as students are challenged to apply their knowledge in “real life” situations. Instructors can provide students opportunities to practice holistic caring processes followed by debriefing to evaluate opportunities for improvement. As a result, students often report a feeling of increased competence when working in the clinical setting.

What goals are going to be achieved?

As a result of the practice scenarios using the high fidelity simulators, we hope to see an elevation of student confidence and higher levels of competency in our students as they graduate and move out into the work place. We look to provide hands on instruction through the scenarios, and provide the faculty with an additional tool to individualize the needs of the learner in addition to providing the learner with a tool for self evaluation.

 As noted in the study conducted by the NCSBN, clinical simulation is as beneficial as hands on clinical hours in healthcare facilities. We will also be able to use the simulators when we have limited clinical availability. This will provide students an opportunity to work with various populations and practice appropriate interventions across the lifespan

The Strategic Plan 2012-2017 for Florida Atlantic University includes an objective focused on physical structures and campus development initiatives that support improved learning and work environments.  This proposal contributes to the specific strategy to “Maximize the utilization of facilities to allow for the academic needs of students to be met assuring progress toward graduation including uses of alternative scheduling.”