Chaplain Utilization in Nursing Simulation to Promote Interprofessional Collaboration and Holistic Care

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Interprofessional Healthcare
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• Interprofessional learning experiences (interprofessional education) are linked to better post-graduation practice outcomes for nursing students.
• Integrating diverse healthcare professionals into educational settings is crucial for holistic patient care.
• Simulation offers a controlled environment to explore complex patient scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of integrating a chaplain into a nursing simulation for senior baccalaureate students.
• To understand nursing students' perceptions of utilizing chaplaincy resources during simulated patient emotional distress.
• To inform the design of future interprofessional and holistic health simulations.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving fifteen senior nursing students in a prelicensure baccalaureate program.
• A simulation scenario was designed to include a chaplain's role in managing a patient with emotional distress.
• Anonymous surveys were used to collect student feedback on the interprofessional experience.

Main Results:

• Nursing students gained new insights into the value of chaplaincy support within a simulated healthcare setting.
• The experience highlighted the benefits of interprofessional collaboration in addressing patient emotional and spiritual needs.
• Students reported increased confidence in consulting with spiritual care providers.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional simulations incorporating chaplains can enhance nursing students' understanding of holistic care.
• Utilizing chaplaincy resources in simulations prepares nursing students for diverse patient needs.
• This study provides a foundation for developing more comprehensive interprofessional and holistic health simulations.