Author: Gerry Altmiller, EdD, APRN, ACNS-BC, ANEF, FAAN
Title: Associate Professor
Institution: The College of New Jersey
Email: Altmillg@TCNJ.edu
Competency Category(s)
Safety
Learner Level(s)
Pre-Licensure ADN/Diploma, Pre-Licensure BSN
Learner Setting(s)
Clinical Setting
Strategy Type
Case Studies
Learning Objectives
This case study is designed to develop student knowledge of the (1) human factors and other basic safety design principles as well as commonly used unsafe practices and to develop knowledge of (2) potential and actual impact of national patient safety resources, initiatives and regulations. It is designed to increase skill regarding (1) strategies to reduce risk of harm to self or others, (2)reduce reliance on memory, and (3) to focus attention on safety in care settings. This case study focues on attitudes that (1) value the contribution of standardization/reliability to safety, (2) value their own role in preventing errors, and (3) value the relationship between national safety campaigns and implementation in local practices and practice settings.
Strategy Overview
This strategy is an unfolding case study of a patient with pancreatitis admitted as an in-patient. It provides an opportunity for students to learn about caring for a patient with pancreatitis while utilizing national safety standards for the patient’s care.
Evaluation Description
Evaluation strategies related to student learning will include separate measurement of a cohort of questions on the final exam that focus on the decision making skills of the nurse caring for the patient with pancreatitis. Questions will include content related to implementation of national patient safety standards for the hospitalized patient, appropriate and effective strategies to use to reduce risk of harm, and recognition of the role of the patient as well as the role of the nurse in preventing errors and complications.
Student satisfaction with this teaching strategy will be evaluated following the presentation of this unfolding case study using a questionnaire with the five following statements followed by a 5 point Likert scale: (1) This presentation provided the information needed to care for the patient with pancreatitis. (2) I found myself actively thinking about the patient’s care during this presentation. (3) I recognize the value of my role in preventing errors and promoting safety for the hospitalized patient. (4) I would like to have more classes presented as unfolding case studies. (5) I found my mind wandering during this presentation. An area for comments will be provided at the bottom.
Faculty satisfaction with this teaching strategy will be evaluated during discussion with the QSEN team and the faculty members that teach the medical surgical courses.
