From Classroom to Clinic: Using Simulations to Build Critical Healthcare Skills at ICPR Junior College

 ICPR Junior College has a rich 70-year legacy of preparing students in Puerto Rico for successful careers. With five campuses across the island, ICPR offers a wide range of programs, including healthcare specialties like nursing, clinical ultrasound, radiologic technology, and therapeutic massage. Their students come from diverse backgrounds with many balancing work and family responsibilities while working toward their educational goals. 

Overcoming Challenges in Healthcare Education

Like many healthcare educators, ICPR faced significant challenges in preparing students for future careers. Externship opportunities were slim. Laboratory time and equipment was in short supply. Limited access to real-world clinical settings and lab time hindered students' ability to experience hands-on practice and develop the essential skills they needed to become fully versed in medical procedures before working with patients. The college began to look for innovative solutions to bridge this gap and ensure graduates were well-prepared and confident as they faced the demands of the modern healthcare landscape.

ICPR faculty knew that student satisfaction was crucial for motivation and retention, so they sought a solution that was engaging, effective, and replicated the real-life patient care that students would encounter post graduation. 

Simulation: A Bridge to Real-World Healthcare

Simulation-based learning emerged as the answer. By replicating realistic clinical scenarios, students could practice essential skills in a safe, controlled environment. This innovative approach allowed them to experiment, make mistakes, and learn without any risk to real patients. The result was a more confident and competent graduate, ready to take on the challenges of the healthcare field.

At ICPR, simulation is integrated into both on-site and blended learning formats for clinical ultrasound and radiologic technology students. Simulation-based learning was used to enhance courses in anatomy, protocols, patient management, and more, providing students with a deeper understanding of the material and a chance to apply their knowledge in a realistic setting. Faculty also used data from simulations to identify where students might be struggling so they could offer personalized mentorship.

Student Success through Simulation

The results of this approach have been remarkable. A study of ICPR's clinical sonography students revealed the significant impact of simulation-based learning:

• 96% of students achieved the course objectives.

• 94% felt confident applying their knowledge in other courses, jobs, or daily life.

• 83% found simulation to be a useful learning method.

Students praised the realism of the simulations and the opportunity to learn from their mistakes in a supportive environment. They reported gaining knowledge and technical skills beyond the course's initial goals, a testament to the power of experiential learning. ICPR has now been using SIMTICS simulation-based learning for 10+ years to prepare students for success.

The Future of Healthcare Education

The success of simulation-based learning at ICPR Junior College is a testament to its transformative potential in healthcare education. By providing students with a safe space to practice and refine their skills, simulations are preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals to excel in their careers and provide exceptional patient care.

This approach not only benefits students, but also the healthcare system as a whole. By fostering confident and competent graduates, simulation-based learning is contributing to a safer and more effective healthcare workforce. The future of healthcare education is here, and it's being shaped by the power of simulation.

We see in SIMTICS a valuable tool to reinforce clinical skills so the student can practice according to their own learning needs, at any time and any place. We are very satisfied and know that with the SIMTICS tools available to our students…[we have] a significant competitive advantage over other institutions. We recommend SIMTICS to other health and science education colleagues to improve professor performance and student learning.

- Dr. Mónica Cerejido Ruiz and Prof. Noris Colón Pagán, ICPR Junior College