Simulation enhanced interprofessional education with nurse practitioner and medical students for patients with bipolar disorder: Facilitators and barriers in teamwork

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the facilitators and barriers in the process of learning teamwork and communication skills using a pilot simulation enhanced interprofessional education (Sim-IPE) project based on a case study of an individual living with bipolar disorder. Five student teams each composed of one nurse practitioner student and one medical student participated in two standardized patient sessions that included briefs and debriefs with trained facilitators. Teams also participated in two online sessions for planning purposes. Two researchers analyzed the digital recorded briefs and debriefs using content analysis. The results identified six themes: acknowledging, mutual support, communication, flexibility, team planning, and patient centered goals. Acknowledging one’s own strengths and weaknesses early in the team development enabled trust building resulting in more effective planning and a highly functioning team. This Sim-IPE project can serve as a model for teaching teamwork for other disciplines and clinicians in psychiatric care. It is recommended that integrating this type of longitudinal Sim-IPE sessions into curricula of all health professions education can improve successful learning of teamwork in psychiatric care.