On April 5, 2016, students from the Indiana University School Nursing at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) and Ivy Tech Community College (ITCC) will participate in a mock disaster simulation at Camp Atterbury. In total, 58 nursing students from IUPUC, 16 IVTCC nursing students, and nine ITCC paramedic students will participate in the mock tornado disaster simulation at Camp Atterbury's Medical Simulation Training Center.

Students from both nursing and paramedic sciences traditionally participate in on-campus health care simulation scenarios.  This mock disaster event is the third simulation collaboratively enacted between IUPUC and ITCC nursing, and the first one involving paramedic students.  Furthermore, this is the first time IUPUC nursing students has implemented on a large-scale, mass casualty, disaster simulation in partnership with the community.

During the mock disaster simulation, 38 sophomore nursing students will be will act out the role of “victims.”  The students will be assigned a family, or portray an individual. Each will depict physical and emotional injuries often sustained during large scale tornados. Twenty IUPUC junior nursing students and 18 senior nursing students from ITCC will be playing the role of healthcare providers.  The providers will be asked to assess and provide appropriate care to the victims.  Additionally, nine students in paramedic sciences will be participating as first responders and triage the victims according to the level and severity of their assigned injury. 

Through participation, the goal is for students to learn:

• Effective communication skills with simulated patients and families, the health care team, peers, and faculty.
• Ability to apply nursing knowledge and critical thinking skills during a community mock disaster.
• Develop a plan of attention that holistically addresses the unique needs of the simulated patients and their families.
• Demonstrate psychomotor skills for the efficient, safe and compassionate delivery of patient care.
• Collaborate with others and the health care providers to coordinate care across the health care continuum.
• Have an ability to demonstrate critical thinking, self-reflection of own assumptions, and values when applied to community disasters.

Simulations are useful tools that teach students to practice skills in a safe, non-judgmental, and low-risk setting environment while being coached and critiqued by where faculty member that are present to monitor activities. Additionally, simulations help students discern and while making connections between practical application and the theories taught in the classroom. 

Through Sponsorship Indiana Campus Compact (ICC) Made the Event Possible

Indiana Campus Compact (ICC) is providing additional funding for the simulation. The organization formed in 1993 and is a partnership with college and university presidents and chancellors who have committed themselves and their institutions to their communities through mutually beneficial and meaningful collaborations to create engaged citizens and vibrant communities. A grant from the ICC program is assisting in sponsoring the learning event.

ICC is dedicated to improving and enhancing learning through service engagement and other experiential activities.  This year's focus of the IN Campus Compact conference in May is on Connecting Campuses with Communities.  IN Campus Compact has funded supplies for this simulation, including a mass casualty makeup kit and triage tags, and they have agreed to pay the expenses for two faculty members to participate in their week-long May conference.

East Indiana Association for Higher Education Consortium (EI - AHEC) has also provided funding for this simulation in the form of a grant. This money is being used to transport all of the estimated 88 students from the IUPUC/ITCC campuses to Camp Atterbury via bus. 

ICC is an organization formed in 1993. The organization is a partnership of college and university presidents and chancellors who have committed themselves and their institutions to their communities through mutually beneficial and meaningful collaborations to create engaged citizens and vibrant communities. A grant from the Indiana Campus Compact program is assisting in sponsoring the learning event. The ICC mission/vision statement reads:

ICC is a partnership of Indiana’s public, private, and community college higher education institutions focused on advocating, implementing, and improving service engagement, so that students graduate as well-informed, engaged and productive members of society, who are fully enabled to provide leadership and service that advances the public good in their communities.

For additional information on the event or to learn more about the Indiana University School Nursing at IUPUC contact Jenny Weir at 812.348.7251 or jrweir@iupuc.edu.