2/24/12

            I continue my service to the New Nurse Graduate Residency Program of St Mary Corwin Hospital and their sister facility St. Thomas More, by offering experiences with high fidelity simulation for the new nurses.  I develop and implement case scenario simulation experiences specific to the nurse’s specialty unit.  I am committed to continuing this relationship with the New Nurse Residency Program as long as they view this as beneficial.  Thus far, I have received very positive feedback from both the participants and the nursing leaders from this organization. 

            I have found that this service learning experience has benefited not only the new nurses and the facilities, but has been a tremendous learning experience for me as well.  As stated by Ash and Clayton (2009), applied learning provides students an opportunity to learn in unfamiliar environments and to interact with others unlike themselves.  I have been teaching in undergraduate nursing education for over 15 years.  The opportunity to work with the New Nurse Graduate Residency Program has provided me with a prospective of the needs of the new nurse.  This experience has enlightened me to the needs and struggles of the novice practicing nurse.  Because of this experience, I will be better able to meet the needs of my undergraduate students.

            Strengths of this service learning experience include:

·         Strong professional relationship between the agency nursing staff and myself.  Mutual trust and respect has been established. 

·         Generosity of the University to provide equipment and time in the simulation laboratory to the clinical facilities for this endeavor.

·         Individual scenarios developed specifically for the needs of each new graduate nurse participating in the experience.

·         Opportunity for the new nurse to “practice” complex nursing care in a safe learning environment. 

Shortcomings/ weaknesses of this service learning experience include:

·         Difficulty for nurses with no prior experience in simulation laboratories, being able to view the manikins as “real”.  

·         The simulation experiences are held at the University, rather than in the hospital.  The environment is not familiar.  Nurses do not have access to their computers, documents, supplies... that they typically rely on when caring for patients. 

            Based on the shortcomings listed above, I would like to develop and implement a simulation strategy that can take place in the hospital and on the nurses’ specialty unit.  I am going to propose that for the next scheduled simulation experience, I come dressed as a patient and simulate a complex patient care situation.  I believe this will be more realistic and beneficial for the participants of the New Nurse Graduate Residency Program. 

Reference

Ash, S. & Clayton, P. (2009). Generating, deepening, and documenting learning: The power of critical reflection in applied learning.  Journal of Applied Learning in Higher Education, 1, 25-48.