Case 3 – Healthcare: Establishing a Productive Interprofessional Team

5 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 all three 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: Mr. Benjamin Levi. He is new to the facility and you have yet to meet him. At this first meeting with your team, you will assess and discuss Mr. Levi’s requirements based on the notes provided to you, and what tasks each team member will carry out. Every member of your group has access to the same chart note.

Figure 1: Chart Note – Mr. Levi

Download a copy of the chart note (as seen in Figure 1) and provide a copy to each participant

Bright Days Assisted Living
CARE NOTES

Resident Name: BENJAMIN LEVI

Date of Birth: 04/28/1943

Power of Attorney (POA): Daughter

Has this resident has any medical or cognitive issues?

  • Resident diagnosed with Parkinsons. Has trouble understanding instructions, is still able to talk and communicate. But short-term memory is failing.

Standing orders for the patient.

  • No dietary restrictions but is a fussy eater. Resident requires regular medication for Parkinsons.

ADL (Activities of Daily Living) function.

  • Resident unstable when standing and walking. Requires assistance moving from bed to bathroom but insists on using bathroom not the bed pan. Does not appear to be interested in socializing with others, however, will interact with staff if approached.

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 Benjamin Levi. Explore how you might support one another.

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, describe for each other what each one of you plan to do to assist Benjamin Levi. Explore how you might support one another. Consider the appropriateness of communications received and other privacy issues.

For facilitator

As soon as the role play begins, message the RT as an RT colleague: “This is the RT from the earlier shift. Mr. Levi is displaying behaviour that suggests he might be depressed. You might want to raise this with your team.”

A few minutes into the scenario, contact the RPN only. “Hi, I’m Benjamin Levi’s partner. Just checking in and seeing how he’s feeling. He tends to get depressed. What does your staff think about his status?” 

Watch an Example with Learners of Scenario 2 in the Video below

Scenario 3

Warm-up recommended before starting, unless it has already been done during the session.

You are new to this facility. You are to discuss the status of Benjamin Levi, gather all relevant information from your colleagues and report to your supervisor. Address any issues that arise and actions you may/can take.

For facilitator

About one minute into the scenario, message the PSW: “Hi, I hear you’re new. I’m Billy the PSW on the early shift. I just found out Mr. Levi has been diagnosed with COVID. I accidentally saw the results on the Patient Care Manager’s desk when I was speaking to her. As usual, she wants to keep this a secret. Tell everyone!”

Watch an Example with Learners of Scenario 3 in the Video below

 

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Exploring Interpersonal Dynamics Through Role Play Copyright © by Catherine Jenkins, Kevin Hobbs, & Joe Norris is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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