Innovations in Simulation: Scaffolding a Triage Experience

Certified midwives, certified nurse-midwives, and women's health nurse practitioners (WHNPs) play a vital role in triaging pregnant patients in the ambulatory and inpatient settings. Demonstrating proficiency with this skill set requires time and experience. In an effort to provide students the opportunity to develop their triage skills, a triage activity was designed and implemented at a large, distance-based hybrid nurse-midwifery and WHNP program. The aim of this simulation was to help students integrate knowledge attained from their second specialty ambulatory care course with an online simulation activity designed to provide practical hands-on application. The 14-week ambulatory care course work focused on complex pregnancy care with weekly meetings in a live virtual classroom and included a clinical companion course. On the last day of the term, students were assigned to work in small groups with different rotating roles. Faculty assumed the role of the patient while using an interactive PowerPoint to bring the simulation to life. Students had the opportunity to rotate through different roles-nurse, provider, and consultant, and simulated triaging pregnant patients via telehealth, in the office, and hospital setting. After each scenario, faculty debriefed with the students about the approach and content. The intention was to offer a safe space to hone challenging skills, practice delegation of tasks, and sort through complex triage content. This article describes the implementation of this virtual triage simulation activity as a blueprint for other programs to adopt similar innovative educational experiences.