Course participants during Harvard–ECU simulation training
Lecturers from the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SNM) were again given the opportunity to work with specialists from Harvard University's Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) for a hands-on specialist simulation training program.
The intensive course, "Healthcare Simulation Essentials: Design and Debriefing", which ran from 23 to 26 June, was facilitated by the CMS's Senior Director of the Academy for Teaching, Learning, and Advancement in Simulation, Dr Grace Ng, Senior Director of Innovation at CMS, Dr Jenny Rudolph, Associate Director in Applied Learning for Performance and Safety, CMS, Dr Mary Fey, and hosted by ECU's Director of Simulation at SNM, Dr Hugh Davies.
In addition to SNM staff, the course was attended by interstate and international participants.
Medical simulation studies are state-of-the art practice in training healthcare professionals using artificial, lifelike representations of patients and clinical environments.
An important element of the Harvard training is the Debriefing with Good Judgment approach, developed by Dr Rudolph, which allows the facilitator to openly and respectfully discuss learners' errors, based on applying the learning objectives of the simulated activity and their performance during the simulation.
This is the third time the Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians' CMS team has come over from the US to deliver this course at ECU. As well as strengthening the relationship between ECU and CMS, it reflects a growing commitment to simulation best practice at the SNM.
The unique relationship between the CMS and ECU, first established decades ago by Professor Cobie Rudd, now Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Futures) and Vice-President of ECU, forms part of a strategic plan towards SNM achieving endorsement from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning: "Hosting the team from Harvard will assist in achieving this goal", says Dr Davies.
By blending innovation with education, this advanced simulation training will set a new standard for safety and excellence in healthcare in our region.
