As an emergency call comes in, police and emergency medical technicians spring into action. Word soon spreads to media who also race to the scene. Before too long, nurses get involved as victims arrive at the hospital. This is a real-life scenario that plays out across the world countless times each day.
Lethbridge College students will get a feel for this action as they take part in an annual Simulated Learning Incident for Collaboration and Knowledge (SLICK) emergency exercise on Saturday.
“Realistic simulations for students are crucial to help bridge the gap between theory and practice,” says Sheri Wright, Simulated Patient Health Environment for Research and Education (SPHERE) chair. “This simulation exercise is aligned with where students are at in their programs to maximize their experience. It helps to break down the ‘silo effect’ where students are only affected by what is happening in their own program. Here they are forced to work collaboratively with students from other programs and the results are often spectacular.”
More than 130 participants, including students from the Bachelor of Nursing, Criminal Justice – Policing, Digital Communications and Media, Emergency Medical Technician and Practical Nursing programs, will take part in the scenario.
Students have no prior knowledge of the scenario they will face and have to respond in real-time. It forces them to rely on their knowledge and training, just as they will have to on the job as police officers, nurses, emergency responders and members of the media.
“You really see the critical thinking elements of learning come into play,” says Bernie Wojtowicz, Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta (NESA) Bachelor of Nursing chair. “Many students thrive in the controlled setting of a classroom, but this tests them in a way that you can’t replicate in class. We try to make the scenario as realistic as possible to push students to react and rely on what they have learned.”
In recent years, the scenario has run twice on the same day, giving two separate groups of students the opportunity to run through it. This year, there will only be one scenario, but in a much larger scale, meaning more students than ever will be taking part in the exercise at the same time. This creates more opportunity for each student.
“Collaboration and teamwork are instrumental in providing excellence in service to clients in the world of public safety,” says Murray Bartley, Criminal Justice – Policing faculty member. “This underscores to all involved the need to work together, to form relationships and to establish a foundation of trust.”
This is the sixth time a simulated emergency has been staged on campus. In past years, scenarios have included an active shooter and a fatal multi-vehicle collision.
The scenario will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Cave in the college’s Centre Core, as well as outdoors on the west side of campus, outside of the Cave.
For more information on the Bachelor of Nursing, Criminal Justice – Policing, Digital Communications and Media, Emergency Medical Services and Practical Nursing programs, visit Lethbridge College’s programs page.