GW SON SAIL Center Physical and Psychological Safety

Policy Statement 

Participant safety in the George Washington University School of Nursing Simulation and Innovation learning Center (GW SON SAIL Center) is the first priority. This policy seeks to prevent risks to all GW SON SAIL Center Participants. Participants include all faculty, staff, learners, and visitors to the GW SON SAIL Center.  

Physical Safety - GW SON SAIL Center participants follow The George Washington  University Division of Safety and Security policies. The GW SON SAIL Center is a  laboratory setting and therefore follows additional laboratory policies set forth by the Division of Safety and Security Laboratory Safety Policies. 

Psychological Safety – Simulation scenarios are developed to replicate a real-life patient care scenario. Participants may feel psychologically pressured to perform.  The GW SON SAIL Center believes that all participants are intelligent, capable, and care about learning and doing their best. (Adapted from the CMS Basic Assumption 2004-2020).

Reason for Policy

The reason for this policy is to ensure the physical and psychological safety of all  participants.

Who is Governed by this Policy 

This policy governs all participants of the SAIL Center to include learners, faculty,  staff, internal and external stakeholders, and all visitors entering or using the simulation space.

Policy

This policy does not supersede any safety and security policy established by the  GWU Division of Safety and Security. Medical equipment utilized in simulation scenarios are actual working medical equipment and should be used with caution. In the event that basic safety precautions are neglected and use of equipment could impose physical harm; participants are empowered to stop the simulation scenario immediately. All equipment in the SAIL Center is for simulation purposes only and is not for use in a real emergency. 

Medical

During a medical emergency at the SAIL Center, employees should provide basic life supportive care and contact emergency medical services by dialing 911. An additional team member should be instructed to contact GWU Security to ensure that the EMS team is able to enter the building and arrive directly to the area of need. There is a first aid kit in each SAIL Center control room to include the  OSCE center (301), Johnson Lab (307), Dawson Lab (205), and Paxton Lab  (203). Additionally, there are eye-wash stations in each simulation space.

SAIL Center supplies and equipment are for education purposes only and MUST NOT be used to provide care in a real medical emergency. Use of the SAIL First Aid Kits is appropriate as needed. The AED is located on the 1^st floor of Innovation Hall, behind the security guard. AED’s in the GW SON SAIL Center are for simulation purposes only and will not deliver a charge in the event of an emergency.  

Non-Medical

The GW SON SAIL Center is an educational setting that has equipment and supplies that could pose a hazard to physical safety such as defibrillators and needles (not an exhaustive list). They are for simulation activities only. In the event of a non-medical emergency, the GW SON SAIL Center follows the policies set forth by the Division of GWU Safety and Security.

Severe Weather 

The GW SON SAIL Center follows the GWU Campus Advisories Weather Alerts for health and Emergency Management. It is recommended that all participants register for GW Advisories on their electronic devices. In the event that there is a weather-related emergency while on the Virginia Science and Technology  Campus, all persons in the GW SON SAIL Center should move to the severe weather shelters which are on each floor of Innovation Hall near the bathrooms or inside of a GW SON SAIL Center Control Room.

Dress Code

The GW SON SAIL Center requires that all participants wear visible identification at all times. All clothing should be professional in nature based upon educational level or physical requirements. All users of the GW SON SAIL Center are required to wear close-toed shoes. Faculty and staff of the GW SON SAIL Center are role models for learners and visitors and should dress accordingly. Uniforms worn in the clinical setting are not appropriate. Embroidered scrubs should be worn for clinical settings only to avoid bringing microorganisms from the  Simulation Center in SON into the clinical site.

Food and Beverages

The GW SON SAIL Center is consider the same designation as a chemistry laboratory, therefore there is no food or drink permitted in the GW SON SAIL  Center space. Designated areas outside of GW SON SAIL Center are provided for storage of food and beverages. GWU Safety and Security.

Psychological Safety

If at any time in the GW SON SAIL Center, before, during, or after a simulation scenario, a participant feels that there is a lack of psychological safety, they may raise their hand to prevent or stop the activity. This includes any action that is found to be disruptive, unprofessional, hostile, or competitive, by any member  of the simulation scenario, participants. To assist with psychological safety all simulation scenarios will begin with a pre-briefing session that will include logistical information, simulation expectations, learning objectives,  confidentiality, fidelity, Basic Assumption, roles of the scenario, and plan for debriefing.

Simulation Safety Pledge

1. GW SON SAIL Center will label all equipment, supplies and medication with the official logo label denoting the item is Not For Human Use – Education Only.

2. GW SON SAIL Center will continuously educate all participants of the simulation program about potential hazards to participants that result from conducting simulation exercises. 

3.  GW SON SAIL Center will always inform participants about potential hazards to patients, participants and staff that result from conducting simulation experiences.

4. GW SON SAIL Center will periodically review simulation-related programs,  courses, scenarios, and facilities for potential threats to safety and institute mechanisms to mitigate them.

5. GW SON SAIL Center will vet our teaching to make sure we do not inadvertently convey the legitimacy of simulation-related “short cut” (ex.  Not wearing gloves, using expired mediations, etc.).

6. GW SON SAIL Center will vet our teaching to make sure we do not convey incorrect information, treat controversial topics as certain, or leave incorrect actions in a simulation out of the debriefing discussion. 

7.  GW SON SAIL Center will make every attempt to educate those who conduct simulations outside of our direct control about simulation safety. 

8. GW SON SAIL Center will have a rigorous process for returning equipment or supplies used in a simulation back into the clinical environment in an appropriate and safe manner. 

9. GW SON SAIL Center will maintain an open and transparent reporting mechanism for simulation safety violations, near misses, and accidents whether or not direct harm to a participant actually occurred. 

10. GW SON SAIL Center will always weigh simulation safety ahead of cost,  expediency, and fidelity when making decisions about the conduct of simulations.

References 

Center for Medical Simulation (2004-2020), Basic Assumption. Center for Medical  Simulation, Boston, MA http://www.harvardmedsim.org. 

Foundation for Healthcare Simulation Safety, Inc. (2020). http://www.healthcaresimulationsafety.org

Contacts

Contact	Telephone	Email
Director of Simulation and  Experiential Learning	571-553-0115	cfarinagwu [dot] edu
Assistant Director of  Simulation	571-553-8512	cdseatongwu [dot] edu
Simulation IT Administrator	571-553-0086	paulcollinsgwu [dot] edu
Simulation Operations		sonsimlabgwu [dot] edu