Authors

  1. Ward, Nicole PhD, RN, APRN, WHNP-BC
  2. McCance, Colton DNP, APRN, FNP-C
  3. Riley, Elizabeth DNP, RNC-NIC, CNE

Article Content

Prelicensure nursing students often lack knowledge about obstetrics nursing and may not receive clinical instruction in all areas of the specialty (such as prenatal visits, intrapartum delivery, and postpartum assessments). Additionally, clinical sites may be limited in capacity and cannot guarantee specific patient assignments for students. We used a 3-part simulation experience for prelicensure nursing students. Each experience occurred on a separate day and was developed with scaffolded learning. The simulation scenarios occurred in this order: prenatal visit, postpartum hemorrhage, and postpartum maternal/neonatal discharge. Scenarios build on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes learned in the prior scenario. This format also allows students to chronologically experience maternal and newborn assessments and care from conception to discharge home. Nurse educators can develop the scenario with the same patient throughout the entire 3-part series for continuity of care. They can use manikins or standardized patients in physical, remote, or telehealth settings. Specific aspects of collaboration, communication, the social determinants of health, and health promotion can be added into the scenario; for example, the Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations (SBAR) format could be used or the patient could be made housing insecure. The scenarios can be revised for specific cultural, communication, or teamwork competencies in addition to chronological, scaffolded learning of obstetrics nursing content.