How to Design Trauma Simulation Training

How to Design Trauma Simulation Training

Trauma Simulation can be an incredibly impactful healthcare simulation experience. There are many facets to consider in order to be able to deliver a successful outcome on this topic. This article by Erin Carn-Bennett, RN, MSN will discuss considerations to run trauma simulation scenarios. Topics covered within this article will include top tips on how to execute the delivery of a successful trauma simulation from facilitator role allocation through to moulage and timetable plans.

Always Start with Clear Learning Objectives

As with any clinical simulation experience, clear learning objectives are almost always the most important place to start in the process to plan trauma simulation. Know the learner group and ensure that the clinical simulation experience is pitched to set the healthcare simulation participants up to succeed. The adult learner will not be able to maximize the trauma simulation experience if the participant has not got adequate clinical skills and knowledge base to be able to perform in a trauma team based scenario.

There is often temptation with trauma simulation that bigger, more severe and extreme is better in the hospital environment. However there is importance to pitch the trauma simulation experience correctly as to not inappropriately overwhelm the trauma simulation participants. As with all healthcare simulation scenarios, there is always the ability to turn up the heat of a scenario if the participants do not find the trauma simulation scenario challenging enough.

Psychological safety should be a consideration always, especially in a trauma based clinical simulation scenario in a hospital based environment. Plans should be made around how psychological safety will be reinforced and also foundations laid in order for participants to get the maximum benefit from the trauma simulation. This can be enhanced through a carefully considered presentation and team based connection experiences prior to the healthcare simulation scenarios.

Clear Timetables Enable Successful Course Set up

A clear plan and schedule made ahead of time for all facilitators involved ahead of time means that those involved are clear on their role for the clinical simulation scenario. Consideration of opportunities for professional development of facilitators should be a factor with assignment of roles for the timetable. Ensure that adequate breaks are factored in for longer courses and participants are updated as to when these will occur.


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Clarity for facilitators on the debrief modality for the trauma simulation will ensure that all involved in the delivery of the experience are set up for success. Trained healthcare simulation debriefers all bring individual skill sets and strengths to the clinical simulation experience. A plan of the aim of what debrief modality is to be followed can assist everyone to have clarity of the direction and sign posts for the debrief after the trauma simulation experience.

Trauma Moulage Should be Planned for and Done Well

Moulage should be planned and completed to a high standard but not over the top realistic so that the moulage is a distraction to clinical simulation participants. There are a number of resources available in regards to moulage which can easily be acquired and maximized. Plans should be made for how the moulage will be achieved on the day of the trauma simulation.

Plans should include what manikins are required as well as resources required to achieve the required moulage. Standardized patients and wearable simulators may also be a consideration dependent on the trauma simulation plans. Regular catch ups and meetings for facilitators and support staff for the trauma simulation will ensure that everyone involved is up to date with plans and is aware of their role on the day.

An accurate timetable can assist greatly with a successful healthcare simulation experience delivery. Allow for more time rather than less. Oftentimes there is more benefit for example to have a connection based team experience and introductions phase followed by two trauma simulations rather than three. However, depending on the clinical environment, increased trauma simulation scenarios per clinical simulation course may work well.

Know the clinical simulation participant group well and what will maximize the learning. However, longer debrief times with more reflection time can be more beneficial than more clinical simulation but less debrief time and to be rushed. Sometimes as facilitators the salient point that healthcare simulation occurs in order to debrief can be lost. At times more emphasis can be placed on other parts of clinical simulation experiences rather than debrief as the central point to simulate and aid guided reflection.

Know what clinical teams are involved in the trauma simulation and ensure that invitations to management and clinical staff are sent out early. Potentially consider having a few additional participants assigned incase of sick calls or need for participants to be pulled back clinically. Often a trauma simulation can require a large healthcare simulation faculty base as well so ensure there is availability for these numbers as well.

Involve Other Teams as Resources Allow

Considerations to involve other services and clinical departments such as radiology and blood bank can be immensely beneficial to a trauma simulation experience. Think about what clinical teams attend a trauma case in the organization where the trauma simulation experience is occurring and try to involve all of them as able. Interdepartmental clinical simulation is incredibly beneficial for cross department relationships and culture improvements.

A facilitator meeting and post course debrief afterward the trauma simulation should be completed. An after course meeting can be useful in order for facilitators to be able to reflect on how the trauma simulation course has run and what requires adaptation prior to the next experience. This is an ideal space to be able to assign follow up jobs roles for completion after a course as well.

Select the Right Trauma Simulator Equipment

Standard patient simulators will not do for Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Scenarios, as they will not be durable enough for rugged terrain or field use. Trauma Manikins, like those from TacMed Solutions, are specifically designed and field tested to maximize operational efficiency in austere environments outside of the soft beds most human patient simulators reside. Consider the right tool for the job at hand with easily replaceable skins, limbs, wounds, and moulage wounds. Further selection of trauma manikins should depend on the learning objectives at hand, from wearable simulators like the Cut Suit to Simulated Patients for realistic patient screaming.

This article has discussed trauma simulation. Discussion has been centered around the how to aspects of the running of a trauma simulation based course. This has included considerations for facilitators in terms of the run of the show and how to facilitate a trauma simulation based experience. Trauma simulation scenarios and courses can be incredibly useful for teams to complete in isolation or as an interdepartmental clinical simulation experience. The benefits for teams, organizations and systems to complete trauma simulation scenarios should not be under rated.

Check Out the Online CE Course and Moulage Kit on Trauma Moulage

Erin Carn-Bennett Avatar
MSN, RN
Simulation Nurse Educator
Erin Carn-Bennett is a Simulation Nurse Educator for the Douglas Starship Simulation Programme in Auckland, New Zealand. Carn-Bennett has her Masters of Nursing and has an extensive nursing career within pediatric emergency and also nursing management. She is passionate about debriefing and all things simulation. Carn-Bennett is a member of the IPSS board of directors. Carn-Bennett is the lead host of the podcast Sim Nurse NZ.