Case 4 – Healthcare: Interprofessional Communication Challenges
7 Scenarios
Professional Roles
The following roles should be assigned to participants before the simulation begins. Read out loud the responsibilities of each profession, and distribute copies to participants, before the warm-up to provide this information to all participants.
Personal Support Worker (PSW): as a PSW you are required to assist a resident in activities of daily living (ADL) including transferring a patient (e.g., from a chair to a bed), skin care, oral and personal hygiene, toileting, feeding, hydration, documentation and charting, reporting changes in behaviours and/or moods, ensuring safety and safety protocols, reading and understanding the resident’s care plan.
Recreational Therapist (RT): as an RT you are required to assist residents with exercises when necessary. Your primary focus is on the social aspect of care, e.g., activities, crafts, outings, etc.
Registered Practical Nurse (RPN): as an RPN you are required to provide medication, change dressings, feeding, provide reports to PSWs, assist PSWs when required, review and write documentation, and act as a supervisor to the PSW.
Warm-up Exercise for both scenarios
You have been given a description of the three types of professionals in the role play. Take a moment to review your assigned profession now. In the role play, use your actual first names and introduce yourself to everyone else as if you are meeting for the first time. When you meet, provide a brief history of why you chose this profession and ask one another simple background questions, such as why healthcare is important to each participant.
Foundational Scenario
You have just started working in a long-term care facility, Bright Days Assisted Living, for your institution’s practicum and this morning is your first shift. You are part of a pilot program bringing together multidisciplinary teams of students or professionals to discuss patient needs with the intent of reporting to your onsite supervisors. The facility has over fifty residents, but as a new team you have been asked to meet to discuss a care plan for one resident: Mrs. Emma Jones. She is new to the facility and you haven’t met her yet. At this meeting, you are discussing the requirements for Mrs. Jones based on the notes provided to you, and what tasks each team member needs to carry out. Every member of your group has access to a chart note.
Figure 1: Chart Note – Mrs. Jones (A)
Download copies of the chart notes (as seen in Figure 1 and Figure 2) to provide to participants
| Bright Days Assisted Living |
|---|
| CARE PLAN
Resident Name: EMMA JONES Date of Birth: 08/01/1939 Power of Attorney (POA): Wife Has this resident has any medical or cognitive issues?
Standing orders for the patient.
ADL (Activities of Daily Living) function.
|
Figure 2: Chart Note – Mrs. Jones (B)
| Bright Days Assisted Living |
|---|
| CARE PLAN
Resident Name: EMMA JONES Date of Birth: 04/28/1943 Power of Attorney (POA): Husband Has this resident has any medical or cognitive issues?
Standing orders for the patient.
ADL (Activities of Daily Living) function.
|
Scenario 1
Warm-up recommended before starting.
Based on the chart note, describe for each other what each one of you plan to do to assist Mrs. Jones. Explore how you might support one another.
For facilitator
The RT and the PSW are provided a chart note for Emma Jones (B) who is 79 years old with high blood pressure. The nurse is provided a chart note for Emma Jones (A) who is 83 and has dementia. After a few minutes, message the RPN: “This is the RN. Please provide me with a summary of the patient.”
Watch an Example with Learners of Scenario 1 in the Video below
Scenario 2
Warm-up recommended before starting, unless it has already been done during the session.
Based on the chart note provided, describe for each other what you plan to do to assist the patient. Explore how you might support one another. Consider the appropriateness of any texts received and how you might respond. If appropriate, discuss with your colleagues.
For facilitator
Provide the chart note to all participants for the Mrs. Jones born in 1939 (A).
Immediately message the RT: “I’m your new RT colleague. Welcome! Mrs. Jones frequently sets off the door alarm because she gets agitated and needs to move and walk. It might be a good idea to set up an additional walking schedule as this might help her calm down.”
After approximately two minutes, message the RPN as the Patient Care Manager: “I’m the Patient Care Manager. I understand you’re reviewing Mrs. Jones. There’s been lots of talk about her needs. Under no circumstance change anything in her care plan. We don’t have the time to help.”
