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Strategy Submission

Geriatric Care in Community: Physical Changes in Older Adults "A Real Life" Simulation

Author:

Marian Nowak

DNP, MPH, RN, CSN

Title:

Assistant Professor

Coauthors:

Institution:

UMDNJ/Rutgers School of Nursing

Email:

Competency Categories:

Patient-Centered Care, Teamwork and Collaboration

Learner Level(s):

Pre-Licensure ADN/Diploma, Pre-Licensure BSN

Learner Setting(s):

Classroom

Strategy Type:

General Strategy

Learning Objectives:

Through participation in this activity students will:
  • Performs ADL of a simulated geriatric patient ( affective domain)
  • Demonstrate how to overcome common barriers of physically limited senior citizens. (kinetic domain).
  • Describe nursing interventions used to for care for elderly in a community setting. (cognitive domain).
  • List appropriate strategies to assist elderly live in a safe, independent and emotionally enriching environment (cognitive domain).       

Strategy Overview:

This activity provides the learner valuable information about the challenges and safety issues often encountered by physically impaired senior citizens during activities of daily living. Students have an opportunity to experience life as a senior citizen living with physical challenges.

The focus of this activity is to educate students about the QSEN competencies as they apply to a geriatric population. Students learn to assist a geriatric patient within a community context. In this activity, students “walk into” a typical day in the life of a physically challenged senior citizen.

Nursing support measures go far beyond the hospital setting. Student nurses soon realize nurses support patients in many ways: physically (i.e. medications and treatment), emotionally (i.e. through touch, words of comfort) and spiritually (i.e. supporting their spiritual beliefs and prayer).

During this activity students read a case study, then practice the role of a nurse caring for a senior citizen. They also role play using many realistic classroom “props” to simulate life as a physically challenged older person. Lastly they reflect on the learning activity.

Submitted Materials:

Additional Materials:

Evaluation Description:

A “Minute Paper” was used prior to the activity which evaluated students KSA. Informal evaluation was accomplished by noting discussion about their experience and through the post activity “Minute Paper”.  The faculty member will review the minute papers content and provide feedback to further assist the student in meeting clinical objectives and that promote QSEN competencies.

The skills outlined in post activity discussion were included in the cumulative exam with a 94 correct response rate on questions that relate to this content.  

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