What Skills Does a Healthcare Simulation Facilitator Need to Succeed?
by CAE Healthcare Medical Simulation Blogger, Roxanne Blanford
Research has shown that adult learners are more apt to derive lasting benefit from experiential hands-on training, learning from mistakes, and having the opportunity to change and correct behaviors when they train within a guidance-based environment of shared respect and conducive dialogue.
This holds true for instruction in many disciplines — including healthcare.
One such proven modality for adult medical education is simulation-based learning. Simulation-in-healthcare training is an effective means for developing skills, strengthening competency and reinforcing professional behaviors while not putting patients in harm’s way.
However, learner competence is strongly influenced by the situational context (that is, by the interaction between the learner and the instructor, by the nature of the specific task at hand and the overall educational environment).
Therefore, before healthcare simulation can turn novice learners into skilled medical professionals, there is a crucial need to develop educational programs to successfully train those who train others.
For healthcare simulation facilitators to succeed, they must first have the ‘tools’ to teach the way their learners learn.
The Required Skills for a Successful Facilitator
Simulation facilitators must be able to guide, instruct, and support their adult learners towards achieving concrete learning objectives. The facilitator needs to be cognizant of the unique needs of his/her individual learners while, at the same time, strive for standardized knowledge, skills and behavioral competencies.
To achieve the desired and sought after outcomes of simulation training, the facilitator needs to
- know how to manage the complexity of the learning environment
- have insight into educational psychology and teaching strategies
- be adept at communicating objectives and obtaining feedback through non-judgmental discussion and learner reflection
Inasmuch as the expertise of each simulation facilitator is essential to learner success, it is important to provide every instructor with the proper resources, tools, and conceptual knowledge required to achieve learning objectives.
How can simulation instructors and facilitators obtain this knowledge ?
Continuing Reading Here to find out.
