Improving Patient Safety: Using Bruner's Theory of Constructivism to Develop an Innovative Root Cause Analysis...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare simulation
• Patient safety research
• Nursing education

Background:

• Medical errors and near-miss events pose significant risks to patient well-being.
• Effective root cause analysis (RCA) is crucial for healthcare professionals to improve patient safety.
• Graduate students require practical training in RCA to become competent in patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a virtual simulation for teaching root cause analysis (RCA) to graduate nursing students.
• To enhance students' confidence and competence in conducting RCAs within a patient safety context.
• To leverage constructivism principles for effective online learning in patient safety.

Main Methods:

• A virtual simulation was designed based on Bruner's theory of constructivism.
• Online graduate nursing students participated in the simulation to apply RCA knowledge.
• The simulation provided a virtual real-world environment for practical learning.

Main Results:

• The virtual simulation offered a platform for students to practice root cause analysis (RCA).
• Students could apply theoretical knowledge of RCA in a simulated practical setting.
• The approach aimed to build confidence and competence in patient safety procedures.

Conclusions:

• Virtual simulations offer a viable method for training healthcare professionals in patient safety.
• Constructivist-based virtual learning environments can enhance the acquisition of critical skills like RCA.
• This educational tool supports the development of competent patient safety practitioners.