Otterbein Nursing labor induction exercise with a Standardized Patient "Mom"

 

Organization: Otterbein University Nursing Department
HESS Components Used: Fetal Monitor
Other Platforms Utilized: Standardized Patient "Mom", Projector/TV Monitor

The Story:

 

The Otterbein challenge involved how to affordably simulate a busy day in an OB/Maternity environment and ensure that all the learners participated and engaged in a meaningful way. Instructor Chris Zamaripa drew on her recent experience as a nursing educator in a hospital to envision a realistic busy day in Labor & Delivery and the NICU as an exercise for the learners. Assistant Professor Deana Batross joined in as the Standardized Patient "mom" (wearing an "empathy belly") to add realism and a few "surprises" that only a real human can produce.

The HESS Fetal Monitor provided the "vitals". No dedicated sim lab or expensive high fidelity simulation equipment was needed.

Four learners worked together as the nursing team. A "shift change" with "end-of-shift report" halfway through the exercise switched the participation and observation groups. The team had to manage the situation - while communicating with "mom", the OB Physician, and each other.

Here is a video of the learning exercise:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McAkNLe8_0o

In some more recent variations of the exercise, a MamaNatalie is used rather than the "empathy belly" so that an infant can be delivered and fluids can be simulated.

The NICU is set up in a separate room - where other "newborns" are being monitored when the new birth arrives. Issues must be assessed and actions performed on the new arrival - while still caring for the newborns already in the NICU.

At the end of the approximately 2 hour exercise around 15 learners have both observed and participated in a busy day in the L&D and NICU "units" - solving issues and working as teams to provide care.

Then, they reset things and run it all again. In this way, as many as 30 learners get a fast paced, active, challenging, and hands-on experience. For the Otterbein Nursing Department it is an affordable, portable way to get the most out of their active learning exercises for a large number of learners within a single "lab" day.