Pandemic-Related Disruptions in Nursing Education: Zooming out for an Innovative Interprofessional Simulation

Abstract

When the COVID-19 global pandemic began, many higher education systems had to restructure their educational delivery system and transition to online learning. This posed a challenge for students in health professions education programs as it impacted their ability to participate in hands-on learning regarding patient care. As a result, the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing developed and implemented simulation-based learning experiences to allow graduate-level social worker, counselor, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner students the opportunity to learn as an interdisciplinary team in a virtual format. The Opioid Use Disorder Simulation Case Study discussed in this article was developed as part of the Serving At-risk Youth Fellowship Experience Training program with the overarching aim to prepare culturally competent providers to deliver direct patient care and education around prevention and recovery services to individuals with substance use disorders.