Playing to Learn

As front-line caregivers, registered nursing assistants (NARs) play an essential role in long-term care. But to do their job well, they need more than the ability to take a pulse or help a resident out of bed. They must be skilled in human relations and able to think critically, prioritize and manage their time.

Learning To Stay Afloat

NARs complete eight weeks of classroom work, followed by one week of clinical instruction. But for many, this training isn't long enough to build competence and confidence.

"The average NAR cares for six residents, most of whom have complex needs," says John Heckman, director of the Johnson Center for Simulation at Pine Technical College (dev.johnsonsimcenter.com). "For new NARs, it is often a case of sink or swim. Unfortunately, many sink."

To remedy this situation, Johnson and his staff, in collaboration with the Benedictine Health System, are creating a simulation game. Like the flight simulations used to train pilots, the NAR simulation will allow students to learn and practice the skills they need for on-the-job success.

Best Practices

The player is a NAR in a virtual long-term care facility, caring for virtual residents such as "Mr. Richards," who has dementia and "Mrs. Hawkins," who is immobilized by degenerative joint disease. The final version of the game will include six characters that together represent about 80 percent of residents' needs.

The prototype of the game will be tested in the NAR class at Pine Tech this spring. Once completed, the final version will be used by all NAR students in the Minnesota State College and University system.

Nancy Giguere is a freelance writer from St. Paul who has written about healthcare since 1995.