Psychological Safety During Debriefing

Regardless of the type of debriefing format you choose to use, it is important to clearly explain debriefing goals and processes and to invite learners to engage in the discussion. Educators should also familiarize learners with the virtual simulation environment and clarify policies regarding confidentiality, privacy and minimizing interruptions. The way you will achieve this will vary depending on the debriefing format. In an asynchronous debrief, this information is conveyed in the written or verbal instructions and the debriefing format.

In the virtual environment, there is opportunity to urge learners to speak openly and validate their responses to help them feel acknowledged (Goldsworthy & Verkuyl, 2021). Encourage input by directing questions to learners. When speaking to learners, clearly address them by name to convey personal regard. Throughout the debrief, remain attentive and interested and make eye contact with learners (Cheng et al., 2020 ). During the debrief, educators should reflect their own feelings and share personal clinical experiences when appropriate.

In the next section, we discuss different types of debriefing including facilitator roles and requirements.