1. Communication Simulation in a Pre-Licensure Nursing Program
Janelle Willis MSN, RN, FNP, CNE
Necole Leland MSN, RN, PNP, CPN
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2. Learner Objectives
Apply an innovative strategy to improve nursing students’ QSEN related communication skills.
Use actors or community resources to promote communication skills in baccalaureate nursing students.

3. Background Student Demographics Safety
Communication crucial to accomplishing KSAs around safety
Up to 50% of preventable medical errors are related to a breakdown in communication. 
Building a culture of safety which is rooted in effective, authentic, and compassionate communication.
Institute of Healthcare Excellence, June 2016

4. Purpose Classroom versus clinical application
Simulate common difficult communication encounters.
Practice assertive, yet therapeutic communication skills
Increase comfort level in conversing with patients, family and healthcare team members

5. Video Analysis & Evaluation
Process Overview
Actor Orientation
Student Orientation
Simulation
Video Analysis & Evaluation

6. Methods Created three difficult communication encounters
Conflict resolution with an unhappy patient
Assertive communication with angry physician
End-of-life communication
Student Briefing
Pre- confidence assessment score

7. Methods (cont.)
Utilize improvisational actors from a community senior acting group
Each actor is placed in individual room and given one scenario.
The students participate individually in the three scenarios with three different actors

8. Methods (cont.) Each encounter is filmed
The students are required to watch each filmed encounter immediately after and analyze their own encounter.
The students are graded on their analysis, not the actual encounter.

9. Summary

10. Qualitative Student Responses
Best of all the sims so far!!
Watching my video afterwards was really eye opening! I had no idea what my non-verbal actions were saying!
Video analysis is the best! Definitely the most valuable part of this sim!
Actors were excellent!!! I got lost in this activity.
This was a fun/challenging way to learn communication techniques.
Scenarios were very realistic. I know I will use this experience in my career.
Having real actors makes a huge difference!

11. Future Considerations
Students would like this experience offered multiple times
Scenarios involving family communication
Limitations
Consistent volunteers
Technical Errors
Staffing/Faculty Review

12. Janelle Willis Necole Leland Email: Janelle.Willis@unlv.edu
Office:
Necole Leland
Office: