Pride and Prejudice and Learning: An Interprofessional Experience with CLS and Nursing Students

Abstract

Literature is scarce regarding medical laboratorians and their attitudes about interprofessional interactions with other healthcare providers. We investigated learning and attitudes in a joint project that brought Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) students and Nursing students together. The nursing and CLS faculty created a simulated post-partum patient who developed deep vein thrombosis followed by pulmonary embolism. The patient was heterozygous for the Factor V Leiden mutation. The simulations occurred in two venues. The patient scenario occurred at the student Nursing Skills and Simulation Learning Center “SIM lab” at the bedside of the patient experiencing symptoms of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, with the nursing students responding to the patient's distress. CLS students collected blood from the patient during the crisis. The laboratory scenario occurred in the CLS teaching laboratory. CLS students performed real time PCR on the patient for the Factor V Leiden mutation, and instructed the nursing students how to interpret the results.

Learning gains were measured by survey after the 2 events. Retention of learning was measured 6 weeks after the second event took place. All students showed sustained learning about venous thromboembolism, its risk factors, and genetic mutations that predispose towards thrombophilia.

Students' attitudes about interprofessional education and each other's professions were surveyed before and after the experience. Students valued the experience and 87% of them responded that they are interested in pursuing more interprofessional education training opportunities.

ABBREVIATIONS: IPE - Interprofessional Education, VTE - Venous Thromboembolism, DVT - Deep Vein Thrombosis, PE - Pulmonary Embolism. NSSL - Nursing Student Simulation Lab, CLS-Clinical Laboratory Sciences