![\"Shelby](\"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/109\/2017\/09\/standardized-patients-300x200.jpg\")
SPs aren\u2019t necessarily actors. Students of all majors and off campus \u201cregular\u201d people are hired by the Boise State University College of Health Sciences Simulation Center to be SPs in simulations. A high number of Boise State SPs are retired; several are former health care providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne of the main reasons why I wanted to be a standardized patient was because I want to attend physician assistant school when I graduate from Boise State and I feel like working with the nursing students gives me a glimpse into my future,\u201d said Shelby Gibbons. \u201cI know that someday I will be in their shoes, so it makes it exciting for me. I feel like I can also relate with the nursing students on a lot of things because we all want to go into the field of health and we both have to work very hard in school to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The College of Health Sciences Simulation Center started using SPs in 2010. The SP program started with theatre student internships and grew to incorporate Service-Learning students in social work, psychology and other fields that found the SP experience valuable. The program now hires temporary classified non-benefitted off campus people, in addition to interested Boise State students, to expose health sciences students to a greater age range of SPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Standardized Patient program offers an orientation and ongoing trainings for employees. These include face to face rehearsals, simulation scenario videos, and an annual training that covers acting and feedback techniques. All SPs receive an annual evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manikins are used in scenarios that require invasive procedures or symptoms that can\u2019t be mimicked with an SP. Also SPs are much more cost effective than a high fidelity manikin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The students love working with SPs; they prefer SPs over a manikin. The Simulation Center uses task trainers – prosthetics that attach to the SP\u2019s body – so students can insert IVs or hear customizable lung and heart sounds safely on an SP. SPs help students develop communication, interpersonal and prioritization skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI role play scenarios and simulate certain health related conditions\/behaviors as directed, in a controlled lab setting, said Joan Hardy, a Boise State SP. \u201cMy assignment is to help provide a consistent, positive learning experience for the student while maintaining a professional manner. I am given opportunity to rehearse as needed with support from staff. I believe every simulation has the potential to further the students experience in the field of nursing and promote self-awareness and expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SPs are given prep materials so that they can portray a patient accurately. Prep materials include the patient\u2019s history, the condition and situation, what props the Simulation Center will use to make the SP look like the patient they are portraying. Props may include task trainers, wigs, makeup, hospital gowns and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SPs may rehearse with the faculty, particularly in behavioral health scenarios. They may also practice with other SPs, where another SP pretends to be the student. This allows the faculty to observe and coach the SP in their portrayal of the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make up may include moulage, a combination of prosthetics and makeup to create the illusion of a wound, condition or symptom. The goal is to make the simulation scenarios as realistic as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SPs offer great benefit to the students\u2019 future of interacting with patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s different for students to practice on a human,\u201d said Becky Bunderson, director of operations for the Simulation Center. \u201cIt\u2019s often the first time students lay hands on a live person. They feel better about practicing first on an SP, before going off campus to their clinicals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cParticipating in simulation has boosted my confidence tremendously,\u201d said nursing student Jen Luchini. \u201cBefore nursing school I had zero health care experience, which left me feeling daunted and racing to catch up to fellow students who have so much more experience in the field. I am so thankful I can practice and repeat skills in the simulation lab before beginning clinicals; it\u2019s the closest learning opportunity to real life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have learned to better process my emotional response in different situations,\u201d adds nursing alumnus Justin Eaton (\u201817). \u201cThis field is surrounded by overwhelming and uncomfortable experiences. The ability to dissect a scenario, piece it back together, and then plug it into the big picture is crucial in providing an optimal patient experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI like being a standardized patient because I know that I am helping out the nursing students and the faculty,\u201d said Gibbons. \u201cAs a college student, I am usually on the \u201cother side,\u201d meaning that I am used to being the one that is being taught. When I work as a standardized patient, I get to give feedback to students on things they could improve on and, in a way, help teach them, which is cool to do. It makes me feel happy that I am positively contributing to another student\u2019s education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cParticipating in simulations helped me work through some of the bumps and blunders that every new and uncoordinated student has to go through,\u201d states Eaton. \u201cDeveloping proper habits early on make staying up to date attainable and a better nurse in the long run.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI really appreciate the opportunity to practice skills in a safe and risk-free environment,\u201d reflects Luchini. \u201cLearning is guided by knowledgeable facilitators and the debriefing portion of simulation lab is invaluable. I can review and reflect on my performance and receive honest feedback from peers and instructors. It is truly authentic learning.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How do healthcare providers become proficient in the physical tasks they must conduct with patients?…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":202,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4072,4071,421],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cohs-news","category-son-news","category-simulation-center"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n