2LLS1 - Medication Matters: A Mental Health Medication Administration Simulation with Standardized Patients

Abstract : Introduction/Problem: Nursing students are not commonly permitted to administer medications in the mental health setting, limiting their clinical application of content. A knowledge gap exists in the creation of medication administration scenarios for undergraduate nursing students in the mental health setting.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop a mental health nursing multi-patient simulation focused on medication administration to facilitate medication administration opportunities for students.
Conceptual Framework: The INACSL Standards of Best Practice were used as a framework for simulation design. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory was used to guide expected student activities.

Description: This project was implemented at a simulation center at a large 4-year university in Texas. A multi-patient mental health nursing simulation focused on medication administration was implemented in September 2024. The simulation had two cases portrayed by standardized patients and one case as a teaching station with task trainers. Over three days, over 200 nursing students completed the simulation.
Target Population/Audience: The audience for this presentation includes novice to intermediate simulationists, SPs, educators, and administrators.

Results: Students completed a post-simulation survey with 81% reporting this would help perform better in the clinical setting. This project was successful as evidenced by an increased overall didactic exam score when compared with student scores from previous semesters prior to implementation.
Discussion/Relevance: This presentation is relevant to nursing simulation by providing simulation centers with an example of multi-patient, mental health, and medication administration simulations. Additionally, programs of any size could adapt this structure to supplement clinical practice gap areas.

Please include a short summary of your presentation that highlights why an attendee would want to participate in your session.: This presentation provides an overview of designing mental health medication administration scenarios for undergraduate nursing students. Attendees will gain practical strategies for creating effective simulations focused on multi-patient care, medication administration, mental health populations, and the use of standardized patients and task trainers.