Use of telehealth simulation to teach the enhanced primary care RN role through community/public health‐focused simulations

Abstract

AbstractAmerica is facing a primary care provider shortage. Enhanced primary care RNs (EPC‐RNs), registered nurses working at the top of their practice scope, can be an important part of community‐based primary care provision. Typically, community health nursing education has not included primary care‐based clinical experiences, and there is a clinical site shortage. Teaching students about EPC‐RN roles can be an important domain of community/public health nursing education. Simulation is a creative pedagogical approach to learning about the EPC‐RN role. The purpose of this manuscript is to 1) describe EPC‐RN Telehealth Simulation development; and 2) describe student simulation feedback.Nursing faculty and simulation experts designed five simulations for community health students to teach about the EPC‐RN role, incorporating recommendations from the Quad Council Coalition of Public Health Nursing Organizations community/public health nursing competencies and the National Competencies for Registered Nurses in Primary Care.Retrospective, descriptive quantitative, and qualitative student feedback data (n = 519) was collected through QuestionPro over multiple semesters. Student feedback data demonstrated support of the use of the simulations in community/public health nursing education.The EPC‐RN Telehealth Simulations prepared pre‐licensure nursing students to practice in community‐based primary care settings. Innovative, sustainable experiences such as this can improve community/public health nursing education.