Other Titles

Interdisciplinary Mass Casualty Simulation Toolkit: Nursing, Engineering, Athletic Training, & University Police [Title Slide]

Other Titles

Rapid Presentation Round

Abstract

Background/Introduction: The United States continues to experience mass casualty events at a staggering rate [1]. The preparation of healthcare students in both undergraduate and graduate programs can be supported with enhanced preparedness through a disaster simulation event. [3, 5] Specialized training with SMART Triage, Stop the Bleed, enhanced nursing, athletic training, police and cadets response to a mass casualty event. The application of a formalized toolkit allows for seamless construction of a disaster simulation supported by INACSL simulation best practice.

Purpose: An extensive search for an all-inclusive disaster simulation toolkit revealed a gap in available resources. The presentation will share a formal toolkit for disaster simulation design, preparation, implementation, and assessment.

Methods: The toolkit includes specific directions for wound design with moulage training, moulage station supply list, disaster scene victim map, victim clothing with information tags, first responder supply bags, pre- post survey, and debriefing guide. Procedures to run simulation: Extensive moulage training, SMART Triage and Stop the Bleed didactic instruction; sophomore nursing and athletic training students standardized victim preparation.

Results: The use of self-designed pre- post- questionnaire measured students' understanding of role, ability to apply the SMART algorithm, level of anxiety, and empathy with patients. The results indicated a decrease in anxiety and increase in an understanding of role, empathy, and abilities in applying the SMART triage algorithm. Students reported in debriefing the challenges with triaging in such a realistic disaster event. Faculty from the interdisciplinary team assessed the effectiveness of the simulation and feedback provided toolkit improvements for future simulations.

Conclusion/Implications for Practice: The Interdisciplinary Mass Casualty Simulation Toolkit provided an organized, evidenced based approach to the design, implementation, debriefing and assessment of a disaster simulation. The foundation of simulation allows participants the opportunity for active learning in a safe environment and created a transferable learning environment to support students as they move from practice into the profession [2, 5].

Notes

References:

[1] Davis, A., Manning, J., St. Germain, D., Hayes, S., & Pigg, C. (2020). Implementing disaster simulations for baccalaureate nursing students in the Gulf-Coast region. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 43, 26-34. doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2020.02.004

[2] Dinh, T, Tori, K., & Hines, S. (2023). Interprofessional disaster exercises for undergraduate nursing students: a scoping review. JBI Evidence Synthesis 21(12):p 2281-2308. doi: 10.11124/JBIES-22-00221

[3] Geng, C., Lou, Y., Pei, X., & Chen, X. (2021). Simulation in disaster nursing education: A scoping review. Nurse Education Today, 107. doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105119

[4] Murray, B., Judge, D., Morris, T., Opsahl, A. (2019). Interprofessional education: A disaster response simulation activity for military medics, nursing, and paramedic science students. Nurse Education in Practice 39, 67-72. doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2019.08.004

[5] Opsahl, A., Morris, T., Judge, D., Werskey, K., Edwards, B., Robinson, D. (2019). Promoting a mock disaster simulation with leadership from a nurse residency program. Teaching and Learning in Nursing 14, 153-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2019.01.004

Description

The Multidisciplinary Mass Casualty Simulation Toolkit creates a transformational experience for disaster preparedness [3,4] The toolkit includes specific directions for wound molds, moulage training, moulage station supply list, disaster scene victim map, victim clothing with information tags, first responder supply bags, pre- post survey, debriefing guide, SMART Triage and Stop the Bleed didactic content, and training guide to prepare standardized victims.

Author Details

Catherine Miller, DNP; Toni Morris, DNP, RN, CNE

Sigma Membership

Lambda Epsilon

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Other

Keywords:

Interprofessional, Interdisciplinary, Simulation, Instrument and Tool Development, Mass Casualty Preparation

Conference Name

48th Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Conference Year

2025

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

2025-12-05

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Multidisciplinary Mass Casualty Simulation Toolkit

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Background/Introduction: The United States continues to experience mass casualty events at a staggering rate [1]. The preparation of healthcare students in both undergraduate and graduate programs can be supported with enhanced preparedness through a disaster simulation event. [3, 5] Specialized training with SMART Triage, Stop the Bleed, enhanced nursing, athletic training, police and cadets response to a mass casualty event. The application of a formalized toolkit allows for seamless construction of a disaster simulation supported by INACSL simulation best practice.

Purpose: An extensive search for an all-inclusive disaster simulation toolkit revealed a gap in available resources. The presentation will share a formal toolkit for disaster simulation design, preparation, implementation, and assessment.

Methods: The toolkit includes specific directions for wound design with moulage training, moulage station supply list, disaster scene victim map, victim clothing with information tags, first responder supply bags, pre- post survey, and debriefing guide. Procedures to run simulation: Extensive moulage training, SMART Triage and Stop the Bleed didactic instruction; sophomore nursing and athletic training students standardized victim preparation.

Results: The use of self-designed pre- post- questionnaire measured students' understanding of role, ability to apply the SMART algorithm, level of anxiety, and empathy with patients. The results indicated a decrease in anxiety and increase in an understanding of role, empathy, and abilities in applying the SMART triage algorithm. Students reported in debriefing the challenges with triaging in such a realistic disaster event. Faculty from the interdisciplinary team assessed the effectiveness of the simulation and feedback provided toolkit improvements for future simulations.

Conclusion/Implications for Practice: The Interdisciplinary Mass Casualty Simulation Toolkit provided an organized, evidenced based approach to the design, implementation, debriefing and assessment of a disaster simulation. The foundation of simulation allows participants the opportunity for active learning in a safe environment and created a transferable learning environment to support students as they move from practice into the profession [2, 5].