Medication Safety: Interprofessional Teaching and Learning using Simulation

Funded by the HEA National Forum’s Strategic Alignment Fund (2020-2021)

Interprofessional teaching and learning can effect meaningful change in terms of preparedness for practice. In healthcare, medication error is the most common cause of preventable patient harm. Good teamwork among healthcare professionals is essential for safe medication use. At present  medical, nursing and pharmacy students do not learn together as undergraduates. The Department of General Practice in association with the Schools of Pharmacy and Nursing and Midwifery developed and evaluated a novel interprofessional teaching session using simulation.  Students adopted the roles of doctor, pharmacist and nurse to generate, review and dispense a patient's prescription as they would in real life.

The Department of General Practice in association with the Schools of Pharmacy and Nursing and Midwifery developed and evaluated a novel interprofessional teaching session for undergraduate medical, pharmacy and nursing students using high fidelity simulation in the ASSERT Centre. 

Team members:

• Dr Elaine Walsh, School of Medicine
• Dr Laura Sahm, School of Pharmacy
• Professor Jonathan Drennan, School of Nursing and Midwifery
• Dr Rob Gaffney, School of Medicine
• Mr Simon Smith, School of Medicine, ASSERT Centre

Students adopted the roles of doctor, pharmacist and nurse to generate, review and dispense a patient's prescription as they would in real life.

Students completed questionnaires, participated in focus groups and were marked according to competencies in prescribing, dispensing and communication.

Should you need more information on the Medication Safety Interprofessional Education project, please get in contact with Dr Elaine Walsh at elaine.walsh@ucc.ie