By Susan Fidment and Sharyn Edwards

Susan Fidment (L) and Sharyn Edwards (R)

As part of the Erasmus scheme, we were invited to participate as guests in an International Week hosted by Turku University of Applied Science (TUAS) in Finland. The main objective was to share best practice and develop future collaborative projects with TUAS. The visit lasted five days and was hosted by the Simulation Leads based at the Medisiina Simulation Centre.

The HCT Medisiina D Simulation Centre

This is a new purpose-built Simulation centre, which was the focus of the visit. Academic staff use this facility for healthcare simulation teaching. It comprises of six rooms for simulation, control rooms and debriefing. A range of simulation manikins, including baby, child, and maternity mannequins, are used but mainly from Laerdal Sim.

Simulated Patients (SP) are also used in scenarios which benefit from a real person who can act and respond accordingly and realistically during the simulation. SPs also participate in the debrief to provide the patient perspective.

The Simulation Centre is shared by Turku Applied Sciences University, University of Turku and the Hospitals of Southwest Finland. The aim of the centre is to promote interprofessional simulation education, and is used for a variety of formative and summative learning. Simulation pedagogy is also used to deliver effective learning experiences.

We observed several multi-disciplinary scenarios, which involved Child Nurses, Medics, Paramedics, Radiographers, Adult Nurses, Simulated Patients (SP), practice partners and lecturers. Scenarios lasted 10-30 minutes and were followed by a longer debrief with all parties. The scenarios are delivered by lecturing staff who work together cross discipline to ensure the students are challenged. The lecturing staff control the simulation from an adjoining room. The scenarios are observed by the remaining students from another room. The viewing room had monitors displaying various camera angles, vital signs and imagery from the patient. Observing Students were expected to give feedback during the debrief. Some of the lecturers set specific questions for the observers. The feedback model used is Gibbs. All lecturers involved in the design or facilitation are given formal education in the theory of simulation.

Following a successful week, we are excited to be proposing a joint project surrounding the development of student-led simulation platform.