The suitcase simulation: an effective and inexpensive psychiatric nursing teaching activity

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Patient Safety
• Psychiatric Care

Background:

• Patient belongings management is a critical aspect of psychiatric care.
• Traditional training methods may not adequately prepare nursing students for this task.
• A gap exists in practical, hands-on training for handling patient admissions in psychiatric settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a tabletop simulation for teaching psychiatric patient belongings management to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students.
• To assess the effectiveness and student perception of the simulation as a patient safety activity.
• To provide an accessible and adaptable training tool for nursing education and staff development.

Main Methods:

• A tabletop simulation activity was designed involving BSN students (second-degree and traditional).
• Students processed fictional patient belongings from suitcases/backpacks according to a simulated hospital policy.
• The Simulation Effectiveness Tool (SET) and open-ended questions were used for evaluation.

Main Results:

• Students reported the simulation as enjoyable and a valuable learning experience.
• The activity provided practical experience in a task not typically performed during standard training.
• The simulation was deemed effective in preparing students for workplace situations.

Conclusions:

• Tabletop simulations offer an effective, inexpensive method for training nursing students in psychiatric patient belongings management.
• This patient safety activity can enhance preparedness for real-world clinical practice.
• The simulation is adaptable for nursing orientation and competency assessments.