“And, Scene!” – Some Great Places to get Simulation Scenarios (even FREE)

*Update: This article is now translated in Spanish too!

The first time I ever sat down at a high-fidelity simulation computer and opened up the programming option I knew I had found a new passion.  I also knew that there would be plenty of people out there dreading the thought of looking at the very same screen.  Programming scenarios takes a lot of time for those of us without serious computer backgrounds.  Running a Simulation Lab without scenarios is like trying to drive a car without gas, you might as well get out and push or just forget it altogether.  Programming takes time and when launching a new simulation lab it might not be feasible to get educators locked into the time commitment necessary to design scenarios (let alone program them).

So without further ado, click the link below for a couple of really excellent resources I have come across (or that we utilize at the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas) for Healthcare Simulation scenario

The Bay Area Nursing Resource Center FREE Scenarios

Organized by KT Waxman and friends, the Bay Area Simulation Collaborative is the starting point to the California Institute for Nursing & Healthcare (CINHC) and the California Simulation Alliance (CSA).  Both of those resources have scenarios available to users as well.  BASC offers some FREE scenarios for Med/Surg, Critical Care, Peds and Maternity/OB.  I have heard from numerous folks that this is a great starting point for some high-level functioning simulation scenarios.

Evolve SLS Case NURSING Scenarios from Elsevier

The scenario packages available from Evolve line up with teaching objectives from several note-able educational texts.  This works well in that your learners will be able to read about specific examples in their text and then have an opportunity to experience similar examples in your Simulation Labs.  Of course, scenarios can act by themselves and do not have to line up with the text – but this is a great opportunity if your department is looking to align the curriculum.

Elsevier does an amazing job at creating SIMPLE to read and understand simulation scenarios with dedicated sections for learning objectives, preparation and setup, operations and debriefing.  Here is an example of the room setup for one of Evolve’s scenarios:

Evolve has had Med-Surg  scenario packages based off different texts for quite some time now, and have recently added Maternity and Pediatric scenario packages to their growing arsenal.  One important thing to note is that these scenarios are “on paper”.  Meaning the package does NOT come with computer programming for your high fidelity simulation system (ie Gaumard, METI, or Laerdal).  So someone in your department will still want to program these scenario packages into your computer systems, so that you can utilize the highest efficiency in your lab and your simulations.  (See more about why this is crucial to a successful simulation program below).

Most of the faculty from our two collaborative Nursing Schools utilize the scenario packages from Evolve.  As an administrator I have been pleased to work with a system that can get those new to simulation up and running within a few hours without forcing educators to spend hours up front designing scenarios for their courses.  Of course I feel that uniquely programmed scenarios specific to each instructor’s course will have better results, but getting the “foot in the door” really helps launch a new simulation program.

These scenarios also link up to an in-house online patient charting system, so if you can provide a laptop with internet connection in your Sim Lab the students can work out these important details during the lab.

The downside to me with the SLS scenario packages from Evolve is that someone has to pay for access to these scenarios on a PER STUDENT basis.  In other words, these scenarios are leased and not owned.  That means I have to keep paying into the system like these scenarios were text books.  While the Nursing students have access to these scenarios for the duration of their education, it would of course be best if I could pay a lump fee up front for access to this system and leave it at that.

However, at this time and for the foreseeable future we have been quite pleased with this system.  In the long run, other more permanent options will have to be explored.

Manikin Specific Scenario Packages

Both CAE Healthcare and Laerdal have simulation scenario packages that come programmed for their specific systems.  Again, even though with these options you are purchasing a system-specific blue-print for a scenario, once you own the blue print you can program the algorithm into any of the other systems on your own time.  (ie a Laerdal Simbaby PALS scenario can just as easily be used on a Gaumard Baby Hal, you just have to program the software or run it “on-the-fly” by yourself).  The benefit to purchasing these packages is that unlike the Elsevier Evolve scenarios, when you buy these they are yours!  This is important for any type of Sim Lab running multi-professional education across healthcare silos, that may need to run collaborative simulations.  So with packages like the ones listed below, once your institution purchases them anyone in that institution can use them.