IPE in Action: Nurse Practitioner and Athletic Trainer Grad Students Unite In Simulation Lab

CHHS faculty, lecturers, coordinators and program directors from the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences-Master of Science Athletic Training (MSAT) program—Kim Detwiler and Margo Greicar, and the School of Nursing’s Karen Anderson, Angela Bencke, Lisa Concilio, Judy Dye and Alma Mercado lead an innovative Interprofessional Education (IPE) program that brings together master’s students in the CHHS Athletic Training (AT) and Nurse Practitioner (NP) programs.

The annual IPE program is designed to enhance graduate students’ understanding of each other’s discipline’s unique expertise and strengthen teamwork and communication.

“Our IPE simulations provide a valuable opportunity for nurse practitioners and athletic training students to develop the skills and understanding necessary for effective interprofessional collaboration, ultimately leading to better patient care,” said Margo Greicar, MSAT program director.

The IPE sessions provide the graduate students with hands-on experience in the nursing department’s realistic simulation lab using standardized patients (SPs), who are professional actors trained to portray patients.

“Providing SPs standardizes the scenarios so that student experiences are consistent. Plus, it adds a ‘real life’ quality to the situation,” explained Judy Dye, associate professor of nursing. “They can be very realistic—as SPs react to medical situations–they cry, laugh, and express pain during the interactions.”

The program's success is advancing initiatives for IPE collaborations across many CHHS schools.