Students Serving As Peer Patients

Students Serving As Peer Patients - APRN Programs only

The University of Minnesota, School of Nursing faculty support students serving as peer patients during peer physical examination (PPE). In simulation and learning labs we want to create a culture of trust, empathy, and support between students, faculty, student peer patients and standardized patients. Through intentional planning and expectation setting we will set the stage for a positive and productive learning environment. We recognize that if a student has any concerns regarding serving as a “patient” they will contact the lead course faculty at the beginning of the semester to discuss concerns and identify the plan going forward.

The following values describe our beliefs when working with student peer patients:

• Students teaching and coaching each other is a valuable learning opportunity

• Students assessing others helps both the students to learn valuable practice and communication techniques

• Students learn when being assessed by a peer, improving their ability to be empathetic with each other when completing exams

• Students gain a greater appreciation for the experience of patients so feedback can be given that is more meaningful

• Organizational process and clinical decision making are learned through doing the real work in the learning lab, which is necessary prior to entering the clinical environment

• This practice allows faculty to coach both technique and decision making during the peer process.

• Annually, faculty will participate in training program to review the principles and competencies in teaching using students as peer patients, and dialogue and empathy related to creating a safe learning environment

At the beginning of the course/semester:

• Students will receive information about the peer assessment process, including principles, specific exam components included in the process, and ground rules for making the experience a success.

○ description of our guiding principles

○ why we believe this is important

○ what is expected during PPE

○ ethical considerations

○ confidentiality, talking, simulating PHI

• Standardized patients are used in OSCEs and any “sensitive” exams. Students will not be required to participate in practicing breast, pelvic, genital, or rectal (or any other area of the body that the student identifies as sensitive) examinations on their peers.

• Students will either self select partners to complete exams or be faculty assigned, depending on the learning objectives.