Submitted By: Rosanna Henry

Full Center Name: The Learning and Simulation Center 

Center Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA

Year Opened: 2019

Center Mission Statement: The mission of the Consultant with Disability Simulation Program (CDSP)is to provide authentic encounters within the simulation environment to undergraduate and graduate nursing students for the purpose of improving the care of individuals with disabilities and their families. This will be achieved through collaborative and compassionate learning encounters with community consultants with disabilities that will enhance students’ knowledge and refine the clinical skills needed to care for individuals with disabilities. Though authentic simulation methodology, we will build a workforce of competent practitioners fluent in the art and science of disability health care that is essential to the improvement of health care delivery services and health outcomes of people with disabilities.

Bragging Points:

• Duquesne University School of Nursing is among one of the first Universities in the region to begin a simulation program developed in partnership with consultants with disabilities.
• The program has been so well received that we are continuing to expand it across the curriculum.
• The program was able to continue in a virtual format during the pandemic.

What makes your team work well?

• There is genuine interest in improving the care of individuals with disabilities.
• The team has a shared enthusiasm for the program and the benefits to students and SPs.
• It is truly a team effort to make the program work; from recruitment of SPs, communication, scheduling the encounters, conducting the actual SP encounters, and follow up.

Additional Information About Your Center

• The Graduate Student survey ranked the simulated patient experience as 4.44/5.00. 60% felt it was a very important experience. Undergraduate and second-degree students (N = 324) enrolled in Health Assessment and Population Health courses had a simulated encounter with a consultant with a disability and were asked to complete an evaluation of the experience. With an 83% response rate, students reported significant gain in their knowledge level start to end of their encounter. The overall mean ranking reported by students for “The encounter will impact my future practice” was 94/100 points. 

Learner Groups Supported

• Nurses

Is there a GTA/MUTA program?

No

Center Name By the Numbers:

• Classroom/Seminar Room: 6
• Control Room: 1
• Critical Care Room: 1
• Exam Room: 4
• Lounge/Kitchen/SP Staging Room: 1
• Debriefing Room: 2
• Pediatric Room: 1
• Recording System: KBPort
• Employees/Staff of Center or Program (excluding SP): 7
• Staff Managing SP Program: 4
• Number of SPs: 19
• Total SP Hours Worked in One Year: 76 hours in 2020-2021. 57 hours in Fall of 2021.

Please direct any questions about The Learning and Simulation Center at Duquesne University School of Nursing to Rosanna Henry.

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