Preparing Tomorrow’s Nurses to Fight Addiction

Ranked #1 among graduate nursing schools by U.S. News & World Report, The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON) established in 1889 serves more than 1,200 students. Many nursing students entering professional practice find it difficult to transfer classroom learning into clinical practice. To bridge that gap, JHUSON augments their nursing curriculum with simulations that provide students interactive, practice-based instruction to increase skill and comfort. Simulations also offer nurse educators the ability to better track and analyze learning outcomes and performance.

JHUSON uses Kognito’s SBI clinical training simulations to prepare nursing students to identify young people at risk of addiction during routine medical visits and on when to provide brief motivational interventions. Students can practice their skills in conversation with four virtual patients who each bring their own story, concerns, emotions, and personality to the clinical encounter. Professor Deborah Finnell, DNS, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, FAAN, says the simulations provide nursing students experiences that are very realistic in replicating what should and shouldn’t happen in real-life screening and brief interventions for substance use. JHUSON is using the Kognito simulation skills assessment functionality as a capstone in their nursing curriculum but underscores they can be used as a stand-alone educational experience.