Developing A QSEN Competency Checklist for Simulation Experiences

QSEN Institute

Submitter Information

Author: Celeste M. Alfes, DNP, RN
Title: Director, Learning Resource Center
Institution: Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University
Email: cms11@case.edu

Competency Category(s)
Evidence-Based Practice, Informatics, Patient-Centered Care, Quality Improvement, Safety, Teamwork and Collaboration

Learner Level(s)
New Graduates/Transition to Practice, Pre-Licensure BSN

Learner Setting(s)
Skills or Simulation Laboratories

Strategy Type
General Strategy

Learning Objectives

The objective for this strategy is to develop and evaluate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for each of the six QSEN competencies as they relate to specific simulation experiences for undergraduate nursing students. This strategy is designed as a tool for faculty designing, implementing, and evaluating simulations.

Strategy Overview

This strategy utilizes the QSEN Competency Checklist for Simulation Experiences developed by LRC Faculty at The Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. The checklist incorporates the six QSEN competencies and their related KSAs. This tool guides faculty in the design, implementation, and evaluation of simulation experiences for undergraduate nursing students. The checklist ensures the inclusion of QSEN competencies and related KSAs for every simulation experience. Faculty have used this checklist in conjunction with The NLN’s Simulation Design Template to guide their simulation experiences.

Submitted Materials

107.QSEN-Competencies-and-KSA-Checklist-for-Simulation-Experiences.doc
107.QSEN-Competency-Checklist-Learning-Objective.doc
107.QSEN-Competency-Checklist-Strategy-Overview.doc
107.QSEN-Evaluation-Log-for-Simulation-Experience.doc

Additional Materials

Eight simulation experiences have been adapted, implemented, and evaluated using the QSEN Competency Checklist for Simulation Experiences.

Simulation topics include:
1. Mr. Burns Pain Simulation: Freshmen Level Comfort Care Simulation
2. Mr. Mantle Simulation: Freshmen Level Physical Assessment Simulation
3. Mr. Watkins Simulation: Sophomore Level Med Surg Simulation
4. Mr. Swartz Simulation: Sophomore Level Med Surg Simulation
5. Baby Oscar Simulation: Junior Level Pyloric Stenosis Simulation
6. Pediatric Trauma Simulation: Junior Level Migrant Farm Worker Simulation
7. Ms. Woods Simulation: Junior Level Labor Support Simulation
8. RSV Simulation: Senior Level Pediatrics & PICU Simulation

Evaluation Description

Evaluation of student performance and attainment of QSEN competencies are collected in an evaluation log and checklist. The evaluation log and checklist facilitate efficient documentation, evaluation, and planning for future simulations.
The tool was developed to evaluate whether the identified QSEN competencies were attained during a simulation experience. The checklist and log capture the simulation topic, date of experience, level and number of students participating, faculty and staff participating, appropriateness of the simulation experience, barriers to the experience, and areas needing improvement. The one-page checklist also has anecdotal sections for faculty to provide additional feedback.
Both the checklist and log are down-loaded electronically to a database. The database  provides information on the inclusion of QSEN competencies,associated KSAs,level and number of students achieving the competencies, and areas for process improvement in each simulation experience. Faculty feel the QSEN Competency Checklist and Evaluation Log have provided an efficient method for tracking efforts to increase quality and safety education for nursing.