Skills Lab Ideas!

[teacherdanni]

Hello everyone!

I am new to this site and have recently taken over as a skills lab coordinator for an entry-level masters program and work with a cohort of 20 first semester fundamentals students. Their Fridays consist of 6 hours in the hospital for clinical followed by 6 hours in the skills lab with me, their 2 clinical instructors, and 4 teaching assistants. There has been many different coordinators over the years resulting in some confusion in different areas and I want to work to revamp the skills lab and make it the best experience possible for first semester!

I feel we have plenty of instructors for the students as there are 7 of us for the 20 students every week. Our struggles include some students thinking not enough time is spent practicing skills while others think there is too much time. Also, when you have discrepancies between the book or ATI, and real-life (students HATE hearing "this is the textbook way, but real life is different), what do you do? The students hate all the "pretending" with fake wounds and fake IV arms. Finally, maybe just some ideas of what you accomplish in your skills lab would be helpful! For instance, are students given plenty of time to practice and then checked off by an instructor? Are more simulation experiences and case studies included and then mannequins used for the practice? Is it known that students might not all have the time they desire to practice in the lab but should utilize open labs and also clinical for more hands on time?

Thanks in advance!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Hi there. Congratulations on your new position. I'm sure the students will benefit from your energy and creativity.

Have you considered seeking additional personal development in the realm of simulation-based education? I enthusiastically recommend it. I have never come across an MSN-Edu program (including my own) that has sufficient content in instructional methods, let along simulation-based education. The original & most widely known professional society is SSH (Society for Simulation in Healthcare). Membership is not expensive, and they have a plethora of learning opportunities as well as networking venues.

I understand your frustration. My organization has simulation-based learning centers. We also have difficulty with participant resistance. Unless they can suspend disbelief, it's difficult to achieve any lasting results. We've found that repetition helps. After they have done sim lab stuff a few times, it is much easier to get them in the spirit of things.