Title : A role-playing simulation strategy to develop prioritization, delegation, and time management skills
Abstract:
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) conducts a practice analysis of newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) every 3 years to assure validity of the content distribution on the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) test plan. The 2011 NCSBN Practice Analysis ranks organizing workload to manage time effectively as one of the most frequently performed activity of new graduates. The 2014 Practice Analyses reported an increase in time spent on management of care activities; 2011 Analysis reported 5.68 hours (18%) (NCSBN, 2012) and 2014 reported 5.72 hours (18%) (NCSBN, 2015).
To prepare graduate nurses in these essential activities, nurse educators must develop innovative teaching strategies that focus on the development of clinical reasoning. Simulation has proven to be a successful strategy in the development of these skills. A role-playing simulation was developed for an undergraduate nursing program that went beyond hands-on nursing skills to focus on the promotion of time management, prioritization, and delegation.
After implementing the role-playing simulation strategy, a study was conducted that explored learners’ and faculty’s perceptions of its success. A descriptive design was used with a convenience sample of associate degree nursing students. The discussion will involve an explanation of the development and implementation of the role-playing simulation as a teaching strategy, the strengths of the strategy, and how the study results demonstrated that this simulation experience was a cost-effective and positive approach to promoting prioritization, delegation, and time management abilities.
