Importance of Applying Role-Plays in a Teaching Process Essay
Melanie Sta Maria
McDonald (2017) explains that one of the important goals [nurse] educators have for [nurse] learners is to move them beyond the abstract scenarios in the classroom setting- Hotel Utopia, where you have access to all resources and supplies- and be able to perform those skill in the real-world setting (289). Thus, it is important that the experiences that learners encounter in the classroom, [simulation] lab and the clinical setting blend together to provide realistic learning opportunities (McDonald, 2017, 289). Billings and Halstead (2020) add to the discussion that an objective report that the learner has demonstrated competency is the goal of clinical evaluation tools, and that there are a variety that can be utilized to measure or assess learning in the clinical setting, and that they can be divided into categories (p. 498). Billings and Halstead (2020) list observation, written, oral, simulation and self-evaluation as common evaluation tools (p. 498). Importance of Applying Role-Plays in a Teaching Process Essay
One example of an observation style clinical evaluation tool would be checklist; a checklist, per Billings and Hasltead (2020) “is an inventory of measurable performance dimensions or products with a place to record a simple “yes”or “no” judgment” (p. 499). One benefit or pro regarding checklists is that it can be quick, easy to complete and commonly used to evaluate the clinical skills of a nurse learner. One con or disadvantage to this evaluation tool is that it may not assess the learner’s knowledge or ability since it primarily focuses on psychomotor skills (McDonald, 2017, p. 297). An example of a checklist observation would be when performing the ‘mega code’ during ACLS certification, the team leader is the one being evaluated and the educator/observer checks off if the learner addressed certain key points or clinical decisions/reasonings- See Attachment from the AHA.
Another clinical evaluation tool is a clinical conference, this evaluation tool falls under the oral category of clinical evaluations (Billings & Halstead, 2020, p. 498). Clinical conferences provide new nurse learners to merge theory and practice through discussions that promote critical thinking and peer feedback (Billings & Halstead, 2020, p. 503). Educators can benefit from utilizing this as one of the clinical evaluation tools since it helps them gauge the learner’s ability to analyze objective and subjective data from their experience but also evaluate the plan of care the patient is undergoing (Billings & Halstead, 2020, p. 503).; these conferences after a clinical day helps promote and evaluate for various critical thinking skills from Bloom’s revised taxonomy regarding critical thinking skills. One con or limitation to clinical conferences is when it is used in a virtual setting, such as a Zoom meeting with one’s instructor during one’s preceptorship in the final semester of nursing school. Hannans (2019) writes that pending when and where the conference is being held, the environment may not be able to be controlled or if the conference is recorded if the instructor needs review it later, HIPAA guidelines need to be followed (section Limitations and Considerations). One example that comes to mind is when I watch instructors have brief conferences with a student regarding the patients they care for during that clinical day at my hospital; often they will have the discussion inside the pod where visitors could potentially overhear as they pass by. The instructors do have access to a conference room to use, however they often have a set appointment to use that room at the end of the clinical day with their students as a group. Importance of Applying Role-Plays in a Teaching Process Essay
A third clinical evaluation tool that is useful falls under the simulation category- role play and clinical scenarios. Billings and Halstead (2020) write that role play allows nurse learners to experiment with new behaviors that which emulate realistic situations in nursing care or clinical practice (p. 504). A benefit to this clinical evaluation tool is that the educator can assess/evaluate the interpersonal communication skills of the learner who is being assessed, as well as their critical thinking skills if audio-visual technology is also integrated into the scenario (Billings and Halstead, 2020, p. 504). One limitation to role-playing and clinical scenarios is that the learner may feel intimidated or uncomfortable, which then can affect their performance despite having the knowledge to pass the exam (Importance of Applying Role-Plays in a Teaching Process With Advantages and Disadvantages, 2022). When I was in nursing school I recall doing role play/ clinical scenarios during my skills labs, though I knew the information, I was always anxious about being watched by my instructor and peers -who were my team for the ‘code.’ I recall I would whisper or mumble what I would direct my team to do, and my team would gently coax me to speak up by asking me to repeat my ‘order.’ Importance of Applying Role-Plays in a Teaching Process Essay
References
American Heart Association (AHA). (2021). Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider manual.
Billings, D. M., & Halstead, J. A. (2020). Teaching in nursing: A guide for faculty (6th ed.). Saunders.
Importance of Applying Role-Plays in a Teaching Process with Advantages and Disadvantages. (2022, July 2). Education Summary. https://educationsummary.com/lesson/importance-of-applying-role-plays-in-a-teaching-process-with-advantages-and-disadvantages/
Hannans, J. (2019). Online Clinical Post Conference: Strategies for Meaningful Discussion Using VoiceThread. Nurse Educator, 44(1), 29–33. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000000529
McDonald, M. E. (2017). The nurse educator’s guide to assessing learning outcomes (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Importance of Applying Role-Plays in a Teaching Process Essay
Hi Melanie, your description of the different clinical assessment techniques is quite interesting and thorough. You clearly dug deep into the sources and used personal experiences to further your understanding. Integrating classroom, simulation lab, and clinical experiences is critical for preparing nursing students for real-world situations. You have clearly defined three clinical evaluation tools: observation/checklists, clinical conferences, and role play/clinical scenarios. Your explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of each instrument demonstrates a thorough comprehension. I agree that checklists can be useful for measuring psychomotor skills, but they may fall short of assessing the learner’s knowledge or cognitive ability (Low et al., 2020). Your investigation of clinical conferences as a means of connecting theory and practice is well-founded, and I appreciate your discussion of obstacles, particularly in virtual settings. Considering role play and clinical situations provides a balanced approach, emphasizing the possibilities of testing interpersonal and communication abilities while noting the likelihood of learner discomfort (Ziora-Jakutowicz et al., 2019). It is also worth noting that you have included your personal experiences in the conversation. Importance of Applying Role-Plays in a Teaching Process Essay
Sharing your experience with role play and clinical scenarios personalizes the subject and makes it more approachable to readers who may have had similar issues during nursing school. In addition to your careful study, you should look at the possible advantages of clinical conferences, particularly when developing critical thinking abilities. Discussing how open conversations and peer input during clinical conferences help to strengthen clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities might improve your response even more (Ziora-Jakutowicz et al., 2019). Overall, your discussion successfully addresses the advantages and disadvantages of the aforementioned clinical evaluation instruments and offers a great combination of theoretical ideas and practical experiences. Excellent work!
References
Low, D. M., Bentley, K. H., & Ghosh, S. S. (2020). Automated assessment of psychiatric disorders using speech: A systematic review. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology, 5(1), 96-116.
Ziora-Jakutowicz, K., Rakowicz, M., Stepniak, I., Kruszyński, M., Witkowski, G., Krysa, W., … & Sienkiewicz-Jarosz, H. (2019). Clinical evaluation of the effectiveness of teleneuroforma–A home rehabilitation tool for patients with Huntington’s disease. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 405, 357-358. Importance of Applying Role-Plays in a Teaching Process Essay