(11) Building Bridges: Supporting Simulation Programs with Limited Standardized Patient Resources

Abstract: The use of Standardized Patients has been widely documented to add increased realism to simulated learning experiences, especially scenarios that contain a high amount of patient emotion and communication, both verbal and non-verbal. The University of North Georgia (UNG) nursing program received a grant focusing on maternal-child health during addiction and mental health crisis. They developed an unfolding case study that played out over each semester specific to the curriculum for that semester (i.e., semester 1 – Health Assessment). In planning for the simulation, it was determined that a Standardized Patient (SP) would be the most beneficial modality for learning, yet UNG had limited access to trained SPs. Therefore, UNG reached out to one of their local partners, a hospital-based simulation program at Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS). The simulation program at NGHS, the Center for Simulation and Innovation or CSI, has a robust SP program and was able to provide UNG with several SPs for the unfolding simulations and training to develop future SPs. This collaboration was integral to the success of the simulations and student learning. Learner evaluations stated overwhelmingly that the interaction with a “real patient” was the most valuable part of their learning. This poster will describe the collaboration process between UNG and NGHS and discuss multiple avenues one might use to identify potential SPs and what resources are available to assist in developing SPs for the vital work of training our future and current healthcare professionals.