Lived Experiences of Clinical Nurse Educators Facilitating Interprofessional Simulation: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Interprofessional simulation‐based education is a collaborative approach to learning that enhances communication and teamwork processes that promote safer, more efficient working while providing complex care in a healthcare organisation. While interprofessional simulation‐based education facilitates shared learning among both participants and observers, the extent and nature of this phenomenon as experienced by faculty members remain underexplored. Aim To illuminate the lived experiences of clinical nurse educators facilitating interprofessional simulation‐based education to gain deeper insight on how this approach could influence their future practice. Study Design A purposive sample of eight clinical nurse educators from Scotland, all with experience working in areas that care for acute and critically ill patients, was recruited to participate in an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study. Data were inductively analysed using a systematic, step‐by‐step approach, generating meaningful themes and concepts that can be applied to the context of practice. Findings Three master concepts were derived from the interpretative analysis: engagement, synergy and collaboration; the power of the debrief for shared learning; and personal and professional growth. There was a recognition of the significance and importance of working, learning and teaching together. Conclusion Facilitating interprofessional simulation‐based education cultivated a shared, new understanding of professional roles and responsibilities, including their respective characteristics, knowledge, skills and behaviours. Specific strategies of co‐facilitation and co‐debriefing create a learning environment that fosters the development of connections and relationships among the faculty and participants, strengthening value and respect in the interprofessional team. Relevance to Clinical Practice In critical care, interprofessional simulation‐based education can provide a safe environment for shared learning that strengthens understanding of multidisciplinary roles and promotes effective collaboration in clinical practice. For clinical nurse educators, facilitating interprofessional simulation‐based education aligns with the realities of critical care practices of fostering effective teamwork, enhancing clinical decision‐making and contributing to improved patient safety and outcomes in critically ill populations.