Simulation: Preparing students to care for diverse populations in the community

Background: The racial and ethnic composition of the United States is projected to significantly shift to people of color within the next twenty years. By the year 2050 people of color will represent one in three Americans. Health disparities among people of color continue to be linked to the lack of cultural competence by health care providers. Following Campinha-Bacote's model, cultural competency comes with increases in cultural encounters. As healthcare delivery continues to move to community based care, not only do health care providers need to be aware of cultural differences and have an awareness and understanding of their patient's culture to provide appropriate, quality care, the health care provider needs to have cultural practice and exposure.

Method: To increase cultural practice baccalaureate nursing students utilize simulation, standardized patient encounters, and an online learning environment. This online resource provides the learner with the opportunity to interact with culturally diverse virtual clients in community settings. The learner uses typed quires to collect data for a health history, assessment, and teaching plan. The virtual patient responds through a video response, which allows the learner to gather verbal and nonverbal data. The case scenarios are based on focus group feedback and are filmed using culturally diverse standardized patients. These patients are professionally trained to represent the clinical scenario and interact with the learner. The focus for this presentation is an encounter with an American Indian with mental illness.

Results: Video response virtual simulation interactions provide the learner with a realistic repetitive nurse-patient interaction. It allows the learner to practice in a safe environment, which enhances their learning experience, and prepares them for actual patient interaction.

Conclusion: Utilizing simulation allows the learner to experience a cultural encounter, which enhances their ability to provide culturally appropriate care to diverse community populations.