This simulation experience has been one of the most beneficial thus far. It entailed that students work in groups of three to assist with evaluating, establishing initial nursing care priorities, and contributing to the referral services for each of the four acute patients, who were portrayed by actors. As with all of my other simulation experiences, I was quite nervous, especially knowing that I would be working with real people rather than a mannequin. I spent a lot of time preparing for the four different cases as I wanted to feel comfortable and be able to be as successful as possible during this simulation. Fortunately, this preparation was worth it. While I did feel a bit unsure with the first case, with each patient I felt more and more comfortable acquiring the pertinent information, providing patient education, and communicating effectively. This was, however, a bit more challenging for some of the cases as the patients portrayed were very acute.
As the day progressed, I learned how to adapt to the situation at hand to promote therapeutic communication and establish a rapport with the patient. One of the more important strategies I learned, and will further utilize in patient care, is the effect of silence. I have always felt a bit uncomfortable with silence during a conversation and therefore often find a way to continue the discussion promptly. However, silence can often promote effective communication as this can give patients time to further assess their thoughts and perhaps even contribute more to the conversation. As I began feeling more and more comfortable with this communication technique, I did in fact find it to be useful as the patients seemed to be more willing to divulge their personal thoughts and feelings. A patient willing to share their intimate thoughts and feelings is always a positive thing for a nurse as it shows a rapport is being built.
The simulation experience also reinforced the importance of teamwork and collaboration, not just with other nurses but also with psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and case managers. Working alongside two other nursing students to help provide the best care possible for the patient at hand was actually much more beneficial than I had expected. The three of us worked very well together and were able to help one another evaluate the patient as well as provide patient education. While I did not specifically interact with any other healthcare professionals, a large part of my time was spent discussing the benefit of other specialties toward the patient’s recovery. Collaborative care is important in any setting, but it is especially valuable in a mental health setting because mental health truly affects all aspects of a patient’s life.
Again, I feel that this simulation experience has been very valuable for my nursing career as a student. It provided me with an opportunity to reinforce my skills as well as establish new proficiencies. After a matter of just six hours, I am confident in my ability to address mental health issues in a clinical setting as a nurse.
