Abstract
Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a global health issue and the most stigmatized health condition worldwide.2 Stigma blocks patients from seeking care. With their intimacy in patient care, nurses are poised to help overcome stigma-based barriers; however, nurses describe a lack of preparedness for the task.4 Historically, focus on the OUD patient population is inconsistent in nursing program curricula. Gaining insight about stigma can help reduce its power.1
Purpose: This project aims to explore OUD stigma with accelerated BSN students using simulation scenarios to enhance knowledge and preparedness in caring for patients with OUD.
Methods: Simulation faculty and OUD clinical faculty created two community health focused scenarios. Standardized participants portrayed the patients and family members. The scenarios included an oncology patient with medication diversion and a patient taking methadone wishing to breastfeed. A total of 151 students participated in the scenarios, which lasted two hours and included a prebriefing, a first state, intersession debrief, a second state and final debrief. Students then completed an evaluation using the SET-M tool.3
Results: Faculty received 165 simulation evaluations corresponding to the OUD scenarios. The SET-M question means ranged from 2.91 to 2.96 and overall mean was 2.93. Seventy-four responses included free form comments on faculty evaluation, simulation evaluation, and learning insights. All evaluation comments were positive. Debriefing conversations provided anecdotal evidence in support of the simulations. Students remarked on the experience as “eye opening,” “engaging,” and “insightful.” Students appreciated practicing therapeutic communication, offering empathy, and providing non-judgmental care to the patient and their family. Students recognized gaps in knowledge related to caring for patients with OUD. Students also gained insights on the RN’s role in community health settings.
Conclusions/Implications: Additional research may inform faculty of the impact these scenarios have on the awareness and preparation of nursing students as they transition to practice. Investing in a simulation-based educational experience provides a stronger experience and results in greater change.5 Incorporating OUD simulations within nursing programs may provide students with an understanding of their role in caring for the OUD patient population.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Mu
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Public and Community Health, Simulation, Nursing Education, Advances in Education, Opioid Use Disorder, Nursing Students, Stigma
Recommended Citation
Brooks, D'Ana; MacKenna, Valorie; and Chmura, Kendra, "Addressing Opioid Use Disorder Stigma Through Simulation for Accelerated Nursing Students" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 71.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/71
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
2025-11-20
Addressing Opioid Use Disorder Stigma Through Simulation for Accelerated Nursing Students
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a global health issue and the most stigmatized health condition worldwide.2 Stigma blocks patients from seeking care. With their intimacy in patient care, nurses are poised to help overcome stigma-based barriers; however, nurses describe a lack of preparedness for the task.4 Historically, focus on the OUD patient population is inconsistent in nursing program curricula. Gaining insight about stigma can help reduce its power.1
Purpose: This project aims to explore OUD stigma with accelerated BSN students using simulation scenarios to enhance knowledge and preparedness in caring for patients with OUD.
Methods: Simulation faculty and OUD clinical faculty created two community health focused scenarios. Standardized participants portrayed the patients and family members. The scenarios included an oncology patient with medication diversion and a patient taking methadone wishing to breastfeed. A total of 151 students participated in the scenarios, which lasted two hours and included a prebriefing, a first state, intersession debrief, a second state and final debrief. Students then completed an evaluation using the SET-M tool.3
Results: Faculty received 165 simulation evaluations corresponding to the OUD scenarios. The SET-M question means ranged from 2.91 to 2.96 and overall mean was 2.93. Seventy-four responses included free form comments on faculty evaluation, simulation evaluation, and learning insights. All evaluation comments were positive. Debriefing conversations provided anecdotal evidence in support of the simulations. Students remarked on the experience as “eye opening,” “engaging,” and “insightful.” Students appreciated practicing therapeutic communication, offering empathy, and providing non-judgmental care to the patient and their family. Students recognized gaps in knowledge related to caring for patients with OUD. Students also gained insights on the RN’s role in community health settings.
Conclusions/Implications: Additional research may inform faculty of the impact these scenarios have on the awareness and preparation of nursing students as they transition to practice. Investing in a simulation-based educational experience provides a stronger experience and results in greater change.5 Incorporating OUD simulations within nursing programs may provide students with an understanding of their role in caring for the OUD patient population.
Description
This presentation will describe the implementation of opioid use disorder (OUD) simulation scenarios and the resulting student outcomes. Using an experiential learning strategy such as simulation provides nursing students the opportunity to learn and enhance their skill set in addressing the stigma of patients with OUD.