Amber Stoltenberg

Simulation rooms are often underused. This is an opportunity for faculty to develop and create ways to utilize simulation rooms during classroom time.

Creating an escape room for students to complete regarding a specific topic, such as seizures, can increase the use of simulation rooms. Furthermore, this assists the students with getting up and moving with the material they are learning, allowing them to apply the knowledge they gained through prep assignments and certificates. The Interactive Seizure Challenge can be utilized as a prebrief opportunity to prepare students for a seizure simulation or an activity to allow students to apply their knowledge.

1. Identify the various types and causes of seizures.
2. Utilize the nursing process to develop a plan of care for the client experiencing seizures.
3. Discuss priority-nursing actions for a client experiencing a seizure.

• Hint cards
• Clock
• Puzzle pieces
• Medication vials and labels x4
• Code sheets
• Letters to complete codes
• Task cards
• Computer to show seizure type
• Textbook
• Medication Administration Record

1. Identify the topic and objectives for the escape room.

2. Create the beginning scenario. This will help build your tasks for students to complete for the topic identified.

3. Determine how many tasks are needed to achieve the objectives. Using this information, identify the tasks (riddles, puzzle pieces, code breaking, etc.).

4. Develop debrief questions for students to reflect on and review after they participate in the escape room.

5. Identify how many students you think would be appropriate for the size of the simulation room and the tasks. I felt that four was an appropriate number given the size of the room and the tasks the students were given. It is also important to consider the time you have for students to complete the escape room in. I felt that approximately 15 minutes was an adequate timeframe for the tasks students were required to complete the escape room.

6. After taking the number of students appropriate for the room size and time, determine the number of groups needed to ensure all students can participate in the escape room and create a timed plan for the day.

7. Create plans for what students will do when not in the escape room. I had 3 groups. I took 15 minutes at the beginning of class to explain the plans for the day and put students into their groups. I provided detailed instructions on what each group was going to do for each 20-minute increment. I utilized an online platform to have students complete a case study that challenged students with NGN style questions. Another group was participating in the escape room. The third group was completing the debrief questions in another room. I allotted for 30 minutes at the end of the class session to debrief collectively as a whole group.

8. Develop tasks and/or hint cards to guide student tasks.

9. Create/develop the supply list needed for students to complete their tasks. For example, if you are using a puzzle, the puzzle will need to be created. When using a puzzle, I embedded the letters used for their code within the puzzle. Until they had every piece of the puzzle put together, they were unsure of what the letters were for the code to be successful.

10. Run through the entire escape room prior to implementation. An example of a successful escape room is available for download under the Files heading below.