Pre-briefing

Pre-briefing with the student involves a preliminary discussion to assess their readiness, outline the day’s objectives and expectations, and emphasize safety responsibilities and communication protocols. Pre-briefing is a critical component of simulation-based education, as outlined by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning ((INACSL), 2021). The principles of pre-briefing can be effectively applied to prepare nursing students for administering medications in the clinical environment.

Here is a suggested outline based on INACSL’s principles for an effective pre-briefing session:

1. Introduction and Welcome:

• Welcome the students warmly to create a comfortable learning environment.
• Introduce the purpose of the pre-briefing session to review safety, roles, details, expectations, communication and answer any questions.

2. Establish Psychological Safety:

• Identify the importance of a safe learning environment where students can ask questions, make mistakes, and learn from them without fear of judgment.
• Encourage open communication and respect, this includes a discussion on how to approach students to correct or prevent an error.

3. Discuss Roles and Responsibilities:

• Define the roles of the students, instructors, and any other participants in the clinical setting.
• Outline the expectations for student performance and behavior, including professionalism, communication with the healthcare team, and patient interaction. This includes:
  • Student expectations such as: correctly selecting the medications, calculating dosages, and doing the 3 checks, and a number of the rights.
  • Clinical instructor responsibilities, such as understanding medication actions and side effects and monitoring for correct steps and intervening to prevent errors.
  • Staff nurse responsibilities
    • It is important to identify who will administer medications that are not within the current skill set of the student (this is a discussion between the Clinical instructor and the Staff Nurse

4. Operational details:

• Go over any logistical details, such as the schedule for the day, the location of medications and supplies, and the use of any electronic health records or medication administration records.
• Explain the process for medication verification and administration, including any checks and balances in place.
• Ensure familiarity with relevant  protocols and policies

5. Safety Emphasis:

• Emphasize the critical importance of patient safety and error prevention strategies.
• Discuss the procedures for handling medication errors, should they occur.

6. Communication Protocols:

• Review the protocols for communicating with clinical staff, instructors, and patients.
• Highlight the importance of using clear, professional communication and proper documentation.

7. Q&A and Reassurance:

• Open the floor for any questions or concerns from the students, providing clear and concise answers.
• Reassure students about the support available to them throughout the clinical experience.

8. Closure:

• Summarize the key points discussed during the pre-briefing.
• Encourage students to approach the medication administration experience with confidence and a readiness to learn.

9. Evaluation and Feedback:

• Briefly explain how students will be evaluated on their medication administration skills.
• Highlight the importance of self-reflection and feedback in the learning process.