Role play simulations for nurse training

Regarding 1)simulation and bedside reporting:
1) Have you checked at the Laerdal site? They make great simulator and they cost 100000000$ but you can get some great information on the use of simulators. There is also a book on simulation used in nursing instruction...I am sorry I don't know the title of it but I saw it at a simulator class being held in the area (sponsered by the California Nurse Leaders in the Central Valley). Laerdal was there with their fancy toys (high fidelity simulators) and had many scenarios that were developed in conjunction with the National League for Nursing. May be you can get some ideas from that but what I really took home from that class is that you don't need a lot of expensive equipment for simulation..just make the scenario as real as possible (high fidelity)
2) After reading your post again I see that you want to keep it specific to bedside reporting. We use the HANDOFF method.
H History
A Assessment (Vital signs, goald, alignment of the patietnt and families needs and wantes, Drains, tubes, dressing, cast location.
N New Problems (other pertinent issues)
D Discuss Recommendations (recap of 2 or 3 issues goals form the last shift, pending labs, consults, critical orders) Disscuss when and hos a MD needs to be contacted.
O Offer Opportunity..to ask questions ***When applicable engage the pt and family in teach back (to establis goal alignment) (example, Mrs. Jones, after listening to us, if you had to explain to your family what our plan for your care is for this next shift, what 2 or 3 things would you tell them?
Hope that helps..........

Another great source is the VCE (Virtual Clinical Excursion). There is one for Medical Surgical and Pediatrics. The publisher is Elseiver. The format is that they are taking care of real patients with diffierent diagnosis. They have to document, administer medications, etc. At the end of their care, there is a report card on how they performed. Great concept for new grads to see their performance prior to actual work on the clinical unit. You can review with the nurse any deficiencies that may occur without harm to the patient. Love the book. I have one on order (pediatrics) and the New edition is coming out in Feb 2009.

KAH,

I have done this type of exercise in the past as part of nursing orientation. Here's what I did

Created a 'kardex' of patient information for various types of patients - this is the database of information that the nurse is expected to communicate. It doesn't really matter what format you use - could be a narrative description of what happened during the shift plus lab & diagnostics that have to be reported.

Divided participants into 3 different groups.

Group 1: off going shift - each got a 'patient' to report on. They had 5 minutes to review their patient's information
Group 2: oncoming nurses - they got a blank form to take notes on
Group 3: observers: they had a blank paper to take notes on for each 'report' their job was to critique the exchange

Process:

"Off going" nurse sits down with "oncoming" nurse & gives her a verbal report. She can use the 'patient' information. Tiime is limited to 3 minutes.

Oncoming nurse: can ask questions to obtain information that was not provided.

Observers are asked to comment.

Facilitator: asks questions to help the analysis as needed such as:
(to oncoming nurse) "did you receive all of the information you need to take care of this patient?"
(to offgoing): "was there any information you failed to report? Why?"

Rotate groups & activities as needed

It really worked quite well. The hard work was preparing the 'patient information handouts' and I got staff nurses to contribute actual case studies for me.