Using "models" for student practice in assessment techniques

[McClain]

I am trying to develop a proposal for the for-profit school I teach at to get live people, either volunteers or paid models, to allow the students to practice physical assessment (nothing invasive) and clinical interviewing. Does anyone know of this being done at other schools, and how is it administered? When I was in school we practiced on each other and were required to solicit volunteers to demonstrate our ability for the practical exam. I don't remember any liability waivers for this purpose, but it's been a long time so I could have forgotten that part, and I'm thinking that since this school is a for-pofit business, they will want something like that. We are currently using manikins, but the students don't take that as seriously as when they have a live person they're required to touch and talk to.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

i’m a student so i can’t answer your questions, but

at my school we did interviews with 'actors'. they had a whole persona made for them, and there was certain information that we had to retrieve in order to make a care plan. it was a good experience, the instructors and other students watched us and but we went through everything and got to see where some went right and others went wrong.

since i am a student i don’t know all (or any) of the details, but i know the school puts out a public advertisement looking for 'actors', or anyone who has ever wanted to be. some come back year after year because they really enjoy supporting soon to be nurses and feel like they are giving back.

[McClain]

That is one of the suggestions I will be making, but I still really want people who would be willing to let the students put their hands on them. That contact is where the liability comes in.

[diver117]

I am a current nursing student and at my school we use paid models for health assessment. they have done it for years and i will tell you it was great. The models are told to only answer the questions proposed, they will not give out any information free.

We did not do genitalia, breasts, or anal but otherwise you were on the hook to know it all, objective, subjective, history, etc. We did do deep palpatation and in our case we were required to know up to four different areas (lucky me had four), only two for mid-term.

Bottom line, push it, it helps alot, but be careful what you wish for, it is stressful.

[McClain]

So far I have illicitly asked for volunteer models when I teach Leapold's maneuvers for my class, and really no harm could come from it done the way it is supposed to be done (there would have to be violence for there to be any harm done and I wouldn't permit that), but I'm sure the business folks would be very uncomfortable if they knew I was doing that without some kind of legal liability waiver. I'm working on that right now, but your responses give me more rationale to promote this idea.

[caliotter3]

At our physical assessment course, before they discontinued it with the new curriculum, for the biggie final exam we were allowed to bring in a friend, relative, or anyone to do a mock physical assessment on. Don't see anything wrong with this as long as the school collects a signed waiver/disclaimer from the volunteer.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

My school uses paid models and has a simulation lab set up to look like a doctor's office. We can touch the "patients" and are expected to do so. They have a scenario, character, and also a checklist of things we should do in order to pass.

For our simulation we had 21 potential scenarios it could be, were given a short description of why the patient was in the hospital, and had to do an appropriate focused physical assessment with complete health history and HPI. The rooms for the exams were all set up to video tape and we were able to review our tapes after the session. Here's a link to the simulation lab: Simulation/Clinical Labs - Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions

[McClain]

Wow, cool! I don't think ours will be that elaborate, but that's fantastic!

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

My school uses nursing teachers as "patients". It's one-on-one and the "patient" knows if you are asking the right questions and doing the assessment correctly.

[McClain]

I have been doing that myself for OB health histories, but it's really not possible to be the "patient" for all my SIMS clinical students at once. But that might be possible for demonstration of some other skills.