Collaborating for Excellence: Honoring Simulated Participants in Health Care Simulation

In this episode of Nursing EDge Unscripted, host Kellie Bryant from the National League for Nursing’s Center for Innovation in Education Excellence is joined by Dr. Lou Clark, current president of the Association of SP Educators (ASPE) and the Executive Director of M Simulation at the University of Minnesota. This episode discusses a recent call to action from ASPE on properly honoring simulated participants (SPs) and collaborating with SP educators in healthcare education. Dr. Clark emphasizes the importance of respecting SPs as human beings, rather than referring to them as tools, and highlights the hidden work of SP educators in training, coaching, and safeguarding SPs. The conversation explores best practices for integrating SP methodology, such as using inclusive language, providing fair compensation, and recognizing SP educators' contributions in research and curriculum development. Listeners are encouraged to access ASPE resources for guidance on SP recruitment, training, and evaluation. The episode concludes with insights on the future of SPs in simulation, emphasizing the need for collaboration with emerging technologies while maintaining the human element in patient care training. Learn more about the Association of SP Educators by visiting their website: https://www.aspeducators.orgRead the Call to Action referenced in this episode: Clark, L., Doyle, A., Elcin, M., McNaughton, N., Nicholas, C., Owens, T., Smith, C., Szauter, K., Xing, K., & Nestel, D. (2024). Call to Action: Honoring Simulated Participants and Collaborating With Simulated Participant Educators. Simulation in healthcare : journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, 10.1097/SIH.0000000000000840. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/SIH.0000000000000840Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the leading organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. Find past episodes of the NLN Nursing EDge podcast online. Get instant updates by following the NLN on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube. For more information, visit NLN.org.