BN5.004 Simulation Scenarios – Interpersonal Relationships

Summative One – THE INTERVIEW

Please choose one scenario for this assessment:

1. Student Nurse

You are a student nurse who is about to meet the client for the first time. The client was admitted a few days ago following deterioration in their health and inability to look after their health needs since becoming anxious following COVID lockdown six months ago.

Scenario: Actor

You were admitted to hospital a few days ago following a deterioration in your health and an inability to care for yourself after becoming anxious following COVID lockdown six months ago.

• You lost your job in the COVID lockdown.
• You have become isolated and very scared of leaving the house (agoraphobic).
• Your parents have passed away, you don’t have any family living locally and you’ve lost touch with your friends.
• You sometimes get food delivered but don’t have energy for cooking, so mostly eat fast-food when you eat.
• Your sleep routines are very disrupted, and you don’t exercise, because it’s too
• difficult to leave the house most days.

2. Student nurse

You are a student nurse who is about to meet the client for the first time. The patient was admitted yesterday with a head injury following a fall, but is not very accepting of the possibility of needing assistance.

Scenario: Actor 

• You were admitted yesterday for observation for a head injury following a fall.
• You drink quite a lot every evening, but you don’t want to disclose this.
• Finding it difficult to concentrate, often late for work or don’t bother going at all, because you don’t sleep well.
• You would rather drink in the evening than eat a proper meal, and you don’t have much money for food as a lot of it goes on alcohol.
• Worried about the future and what all these falls may mean – you are reluctant to admit you have a problem, but you know that things aren’t good because you might be losing your job.
• You’ve got four cats at home and you’re worried about who will take care of them while you’re in the hospital.

3. Student Nurse

You are a student nurse who is about to meet the client for the first time on a medical/surgical ward. The client is in hospital recovering from having a hip replacement after a fall.

Scenario:  Actor

You are in hospital recovering from major surgery.

• You’re here after a hip replacement surgery.
• You’re not sure how you will manage physical stuff, like getting in and out of the bath, or climbing stairs. There will be some big changes at home and you’re nervous.
• You’ve been told that you have to quit your job or at least reduce your hours because it may take up to 6 months to recover properly (nurse, teacher, etc).
• You’ve received medical advice to alter your lifestyle (you’re overweight which is making it difficult to mobilise), but you’re not sure how to do this.
• You have significant whānau obligations, with two school age children at home, and your elderly parents live with you who you also care for.
• You are not sleeping well in hospital – noisy environment.

Guidelines for Actors

Thank you for consenting to assist with this communication simulation. We appreciate you supporting the student nurse in these circumstances. Can we ask if you could please sign the provided consent from prior to recording?

Choose one scenario from these three options and do your best to pretend you’re in that environment and experiencing those feelings and issues as your student nurse interviews you. It’s okay if you don’t remember specifics from the scenario, it’s just a general guide.

The interview will last approximately 5 – 6 minutes. The student should set a timer that will alarm at 5 minutes.  Please assist with concluding the interview at this stage and minimise brining up new issues. We are happy for you to expand on the scenario and vary it to get into role.

We require the student to demonstrate core communication skills (introduction, appropriate body language, listening, understanding, exploration, reassurance). They are not expected to have any medical knowledge at this stage, so please don’t focus on issues such as pain or anything that expects the student to have medical knowledge.

With regards to the characters you are playing please keep them ‘average’. We are trying to build student confidence and would like them to be able to deal with ‘normal’ situations before they attempt ‘abnormal’ situations.

Thank you again for your assistance with these communication simulation scenarios. 

Client Consent for “The Interview”:

BN5.004 – Interpersonal Relationships

The student from the Bachelor of Nursing programme at Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), who is being assessed, has explained that they will perform an interview with me to complete a communication exercise “The Interview”.  I understand that there are certain interpersonal therapeutic communication skills they must demonstrate, therefore I will act in a role and answer questions to support the student in this communication exercise.

I am willing to take part in this communication exercise “The Interview” carried out by the student.