Authors

  1. Hebert, Sharisse DNP, RN, FNP-BC

Article Content

The i-Human Patient Encounter Simulator (i-Human Patients, part of Kaplan, Inc, Sunnyvale, California) was introduced to family nurse practitioner (FNP) students to assist with developing diagnostic reasoning skills and increasing clinical self-efficacy. The simulation experience provided the students an opportunity to collect subjective and objective data, order diagnostic testing, and formulate a problem list. Course faculty assigned a case scenario, based on the upcoming lecture content, which students completed before class. This strategy encouraged greater class participation and assisted students with identifying any difficulty with the content. i-Human provides immediate feedback to students so they understand why a response was incorrect. The report generator, to which only the course faculty has access, was helpful in identifying content areas that students needed additional assistance with. Once faculty identified these poorly performed content areas, lecture and laboratory activities were modified to target them. After the lecture, students were better prepared to discuss similar case studies and provide appropriate rationales for clinical decision making. The end-of-year course report completed by faculty listed content areas in which students performed poorly and action plans that were implemented to address these areas. Faculty might consider using the i-Human Patient Encounter Simulator earlier in the curriculum. For example, implementing simulation activities in an advanced pathophysiology course would allow students to apply these concepts to a case scenario, and students would have the opportunity to complete a history and physical examination. Focusing on creating differential diagnoses and therapeutic management might then be targeted later in the curriculum.