Pre-brief Example

Created by Health Sciences North Simulation Lab #

Welcome everyone to this simulation education session.  If you are new to simulation education, I want to promote the fact that this is an opportunity to learn, practice your clinical skills, and engage in a safe and non-threatening environment. The goal of this session is to … 

As per the ‘learning contract’, ‘We believe that everyone participating in this event is intelligent, motivated, cares about doing their best, and wants to improve’ (adapted from Centre for Medical Simulation, Harvard University)

We also ask for you to support the ‘fidelity contract’ which is an agreement that our facilitators did their best to optimize the realism of this case with available resources, and kindly asks learners to do their best to overlook any unrealistic aspects of the simulation that may still exist. 

Finally, we ask you to respect the confidentiality of simulation, ‘what happens in simulation stays in simulation’. Please keep the details of what happens during this session, including the performance of your colleagues confidential. 

This case may be emotional to some learners. If at any point the case becomes unsafe, either psychologically or physically, we have implemented a safe word ‘Pineapple’ that can be used to pause the case until safety is re-established, if possible. 

There are supporting documents and order sheets here should you need to use them or reference them during the case. (Also indicate how groups can pull up labwork, imaging, etc., either by requesting, on monitor, in chart, etc.). A phone is in the room should you be required to call (MRP, Charge Nurse, etc.). 

The equipment you may need today are all here— (as applicable) please note we are using real sharps and to abide by the sharps policy and dispose of one-time use sharps in the sharps container, multi-use sharps are to be placed on the table/stand here. (Indicate any re-use sharps unique to sim).  Additional supplies you may need for the scenario are available here. (Orientate to supplies as required – if using AED/Defibrillator indicate electrical safety reminder; if simulated meds indicate protocols). 

For manikins: This is our patient for today; please ensure you are wearing gloves when caring for them. I now welcome you to come and familiarize yourself with the manikin, before the scenario begins. Feel free to touch and assess them; Listen to their air entry, bowel sounds, palpate pulses etc., to facilitate an understanding of what their baseline is.  (Note any limitations to the manikin in terms of assessments that cannot be performed or procedures that cannot be done (i.e. no sharps other than…), neurological assessment limitations, etc.). 

For standardized patients: Our patient today is an actor who has been trained to portray the role. They will anticipate you to perform (indicate assumed tasks, i.e. vitals, auscultation, etc.). Note that no invasive procedures can be performed on our standardized patient (indicate what exceptions have been made including attached task trainers, task trainers off to the side, etc.). Please interact and converse with the standardized patient as you would a patient in this situation. The standardized patient does know the safe word if the scenario needs to be paused. 

Finally – please orientate yourself to the vitals monitor. Vitals will be displayed once you have performed the necessary task (i.e. placing the sat probe). The only exception is the BP, which can be obtained by placing the cuff on and hitting the start/stop mechanism here (if non-invasive). 

You will be taking on the role of (…). (Assign roles and indicate who will start in the room and who will be on stand-by). (Indicate who will be observing and if observing from where). 

Does anyone have any outstanding questions? (Introduce Case Vignette)