Educational Innovations

Use of a Simulated Administrative Decision-Making Exercise in an Online Master’s Nursing Administration Course

Letty Piper, EdD, RN; Kathleen Czekanski, PhD, RN, CNE

  • Journal of Nursing Education
  • June 2012 - Volume 51 · Issue 6: 343-344
  • DOI: 10.3928/01484834-20120323-05
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Abstract

To simulate the type of ethical and informed decision making required of today’s nurse executives, a unique role-playing exercise was developed in a graduate Nursing Administration course. This exercise included evidence-based information about the safety issues inherent in 12-hour nursing shifts. It then explored the decision-making process that a nurse executive would follow to weigh the conflicting concerns of safety and staff satisfaction. A blog format was used for a role-playing exercise in which students were assigned various roles, and the assignment was designed to mimic a roundtable discussion. The final step was to assume the role of the chief nurse executive and make a decision regarding the ethical dilemma of staff satisfaction versus evidence-based safety concerns. Students demonstrated an understanding of acknowledging input from others, as well as the ability to synthesize points on a difficult question.

AUTHORS

Dr. Piper is Adjunct Faculty, and Dr. Czekanski is Assistant Professor and Director, Graduate and RN to BSN Programs, La Salle University School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

Address correspondence to Kathleen Czekanski, PhD, RN, CNE, Assistant Professor, Director, Graduate and RN to BSN Programs, La Salle University School of Nursing and Health Sciences, 4413 Benilde Tower, 1900 West Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141; e-mail: .Czekanski@lasalle.edu

doi: 10.3928/01484834-20120323-05

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