Bellin College teaches students interprofessional education and how to respond to an emergency situation
On Thursday, April 20, Bellin College staged an active shooter simulation in the health sciences resource center (HSRC) in the lower level of the College. The simulation involved students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences (BSRS) programs, and medical students from the Medical College of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The simulation also included assistance from six healthcare providers from various local hospitals, Bellevue Fire & Rescue, the Bellevue Police Department and the Brown County Sherriff’s Department.
The area was transformed to create an environment of an intruder entering a school as well as a hospital reacting to an emergency situation where some students played the role of the patients and others as the healthcare providers. Areas of care were categorized (red, yellow, and green) based on the condition of the patients.
Overview of the simulation scenario:
A group of individuals were attending a conference at a local school. During the time of the conference there was a disturbance with an intruder that had a knife and gun. Multiple people have been injured. There was approximately 30-45 patients, but exact count at the time was unclear. There were some victims that escaped and went to a safe place across the street. After the intrusion, the space was cleared and determined safe by police/SWAT team. The goal for the students was to safely evacuate the injured individuals to the appropriate area, and provide appropriate interventions based on assessment, and the injuries and needs of each patient. The fire department/EMS were onsite to help and assist students in triaging, evaluating, and safely transporting patients to the designated area.
Main objectives for students to learn from this simulation include:
- Appreciate the importance of interprofessional communication
- Demonstrate effective use of knowledge, skills and abilities to safely provide patient care
- Collaboratively implement interventions based on assessments and priorities
- Identify value of partnerships in provision of quality patient care
Why Bellin College teaches interprofessional education (IPE) simulation:
There is a growing emphasis on interprofessional education (IPE) among nursing and the health profession. This movement has been supported by research on team work and communication within the health care delivery system, which reports that miscommunication and poor teamwork results in medical error and poor patient outcomes. This move toward interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaboration (IPC) will strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes, led to the development of interprofessional core competencies to be taught within health professional educational programs.
This type of training gives students the opportunity to work together in a collaborative approach during a life-like simulation, and helps them ensure they are effective communicators among all disciplines in the hospital setting.
