Large-group, asynchronous, interprofessional simulation: Identifying roles and improving communication with student...

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Medication Safety

Background:

• Accreditation standards mandate interprofessional education (IPE) in health professions training.
• Effective faculty collaboration is crucial for successful IPE.
• The medication use process is a key area for nursing and pharmacy student learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an asynchronous interprofessional education (IPE) simulation for student nurses and pharmacists.
• To measure changes in student confidence, satisfaction, and communication skills related to the medication use process.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of an asynchronous IPE model.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, pretest-posttest design.
• Involved first-year student nurses (n=126) and first-year student pharmacists (n=152).
• Asynchronous simulation focused on prescription communication, including calling-in, retrieving, and filling.

Main Results:

• Students reported increased confidence in medication communication tasks.
• High levels of student satisfaction were observed following the IPE activity.
• The simulation served as an efficient and effective model for interprofessional prescription communication.

Conclusions:

• Asynchronous IPE simulations can successfully introduce students to interprofessional collaboration in medication management.
• The activity enhanced student confidence and satisfaction, supporting its continued use.
• This model effectively prepares students for collaborative practice in the medication use process.