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RESEARCH
Learning, teamwork and mutual respect are just some of the words
that can be used to describe the outcome of the first simulation
between the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences and the
University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC).
The two schools came together in November and April last year, for a
half-day experience at UNTHSC’s simulation lab. Twenty-four medical
students and 18 nursing students participated in cardiopulmonary
arrest code simulations. The main goal for the simulation was to
encourage interprofessional education and practice.
Susan Weeks, associate dean, director of nursing and director
of the Center for Evidence Based Practice and Research, said,
“Interprofessional education and practice is focused on improving
communication and work between team members of different
disciplines with the goal of improving patient care.”
Weeks explained that UNTHSC is an ideal institution with which to
collaborate because of the different programs the two schools offer.
She said, “We don’t have any overlapping programs. We both have
health science programs, but they are all different, so it is a great
way to collaborate without competing.” The program also hopes to
expand to include chaplain and pharmacy students.
The cardiopulmonary arrest simulation provided students a chance
to work together to care for the patient as a team. Some students
observed, some acted as family members of the patients, and other
students responded to the cardiopulmonary arrest. The groups then
debriefed. The simulation was repeated with the groups alternating
roles, allowing each participant to both be involved and to observe.
Diane Hawley, assistant professor of professional practice (Nursing),
said, “The debriefing after the simulation was important because it
was a monumental task to bring all these team members together.
Everyone approaches a situation differently; nurses have their
responsibilities, doctors have their responsibilities, etc.”
Hawley explained that allowing students to have this experience
prepares them for the inevitable collaboration they will experience
in the field. She also anticipates more collaboration in the future,
both in terms of repeating this type of activity among students and
in terms of the two colleges collaborating among professors.
Weeks currently serves on UNTHSC’s innovation team
for interprofessional education. David Farmer, director of
interprofessional education at UNTHSC, will also serve on
TCU’s Interprofessional Education and Practice (IPEP) group.
Interprofessional education is gaining recognition as professionals
realize the importance teamwork plays in their respective fields.
Hawley explained there is more need now than ever to focus on
interprofessional education. “It is important to work with other
schools because the real world is pushing us more andmore together,
especially in the student environment,” Hawley said. “If students can
learn what each other does and appreciate one another’s skills and
capabilities when they are in the real world, the relationship between
the two will be more collegial than adversarial.”
PREPARING STUDENTS FOR
REAL WORLD COLLABORATIONS
By Carol Logan
FEATURES
The Harris College Magazine
- 2013 ·
17