Public Health Simulation: Collaborative Water Quality Assessment

Teams of undergraduate nursing students completed a public health simulation to assess samples of water for bacterial contamination.  Using a field testing protocol, students were able to demonstrate competence in critical components of the process. While working within and across disciplines, students exercised key strategies of Team STEPPS^TM to prevent error and to support the health and safety of the community.  Students conveyed assessment findings to other members of the public health team using the Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation technique.  In addition, students designed risk communication messages to community members with a focus on upholding environmental justice and improving environmental health literacy.  Lessons learned from this public health simulation will be shared, as well as plans for expansion of the simulation to extend the reach of interprofessional public health education on campus.