Learning to Overcome Hierarchical Pressures to Achieve Safer Patient Care: An Interprofessional Simulation for Nursing, Medical, and Physician Assistant Students

Abstract

To positively impact patient safety, the Institute of Medicine, as well as the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative, has recommended clinician training in structured communication techniques. Such techniques are particularly useful in overcoming hierarchical barriers in health care settings. This article describes an interprofessional simulation program to teach structured communication techniques to preprofessional nursing, medical, and physician assistant students. The teaching and evaluation plans are described to aid replication.