Other Titles
Rapid Presentation Round
Abstract
Background: Nurses working in the home health setting often work alone in isolated and uncontrolled environments, which increases their risk of experiencing violence or unsafe situations. Recent home health nurse experiences suggest that the severity of safety events has increased in violence and in some cases, led to death. In a recent survey by National Nurses United (2023), eight out of ten nurses reported experiencing workplace violence, including verbal abuse, physical threats, and being pinched or scratched.4 Nursing curriculum does not consistently focus on education for the home health setting or overall nurse safety, calling for a re-examination of curricula to bridge this gap.1,3
Purpose: This project aims to enhance the preparedness and safety in the home health setting for nursing students through simulation scenarios.
Methods: A literature review was performed to understand current educational practices for home health in undergraduate nursing programs. Twenty-two articles were examined and summarized, with preference given to articles utilizing simulation to enhance safety for home health nursing. Based on literature recommendations and content experts, a simulation activity was created. This included the creation of a pre-simulation activity, where students listen to two podcast episodes that focus on home health clinician safety and field experience from a nurse.5,6 Following completion of the pre-simulation activity, participants will reflect on these episodes by responding to guided discussion questions to deepen learning. Students will complete three simulation scenarios, which include environmental hazard identification, an aggressive patient, and aggressive family member.
Results: Pending.
Conclusion/Implications: Simulation is a pedagogical innovation and a vital element that needs to be integrated into community health nursing education that can be used in bridging the gap between service and education.2 We plan to pilot the developed simulation scenarios at local universities. We plan to obtain feedback to measure effectiveness. Additional research may inform faculty of the impact these scenarios have on the preparation and safety of nursing students as they transition to practice. Incorporating simulations around home health nurse safety within nursing programs will provide students with an understanding of their role in their own safety while caring for patients in this setting.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Mu
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Simulation, Public/Community Health, Teaching/Learning Strategies, Nursing Education, Nursing Students, Simulation Methods in Education, Simulation Methods & Models, Home Care Services, Medical Simulation, Teaching, Learning Strategies
Recommended Citation
Brooks, D'Ana; Matousek, Christina; and Mancini, Kelli-Ann, "Enhancing Nurse Preparedness and Safety in Home Health Through Simulation for Nursing Students" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 12.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/12
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-04-22
Enhancing Nurse Preparedness and Safety in Home Health Through Simulation for Nursing Students
Washington, DC, USA
Background: Nurses working in the home health setting often work alone in isolated and uncontrolled environments, which increases their risk of experiencing violence or unsafe situations. Recent home health nurse experiences suggest that the severity of safety events has increased in violence and in some cases, led to death. In a recent survey by National Nurses United (2023), eight out of ten nurses reported experiencing workplace violence, including verbal abuse, physical threats, and being pinched or scratched.4 Nursing curriculum does not consistently focus on education for the home health setting or overall nurse safety, calling for a re-examination of curricula to bridge this gap.1,3
Purpose: This project aims to enhance the preparedness and safety in the home health setting for nursing students through simulation scenarios.
Methods: A literature review was performed to understand current educational practices for home health in undergraduate nursing programs. Twenty-two articles were examined and summarized, with preference given to articles utilizing simulation to enhance safety for home health nursing. Based on literature recommendations and content experts, a simulation activity was created. This included the creation of a pre-simulation activity, where students listen to two podcast episodes that focus on home health clinician safety and field experience from a nurse.5,6 Following completion of the pre-simulation activity, participants will reflect on these episodes by responding to guided discussion questions to deepen learning. Students will complete three simulation scenarios, which include environmental hazard identification, an aggressive patient, and aggressive family member.
Results: Pending.
Conclusion/Implications: Simulation is a pedagogical innovation and a vital element that needs to be integrated into community health nursing education that can be used in bridging the gap between service and education.2 We plan to pilot the developed simulation scenarios at local universities. We plan to obtain feedback to measure effectiveness. Additional research may inform faculty of the impact these scenarios have on the preparation and safety of nursing students as they transition to practice. Incorporating simulations around home health nurse safety within nursing programs will provide students with an understanding of their role in their own safety while caring for patients in this setting.
Description
This presentation will describe the development of home health simulation scenarios focused on enhancing nursing students’ preparedness and safety. Using an experiential learning strategy such as simulation, provides nursing students the opportunity to learn and enhance their skillset in providing care in the home health setting while maintaining their protection and safety.