ABC
airway, breathing, circulation
AC
before meals
Advocacy and inquiry
A communication method within debriefing that pairs a statement of observation and point of view with a question directed at understanding an action through a participant’s cognitive construct or frame.
AMA
against medical advice
APAP
Automatic Positive Airway Pressure
Assessment
The process of documenting, usually in measurable terms, a subject’s knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs.
Avatar
Graphical representation of the user or user’s alter ego or character. It may take either a 3-dimensiona form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a 2-D form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities.
Behavioral Skills
the decision-making and team interaction processes used during team’s management of a situation
best practices
An idea that asserts that there is a technique, method, process, activity, incentive, or reward that is more effective at delivering particular outcomes than any other technique, method, process, and so on. the most efficient (least amount of effort) and effective (best results)way of accomplishing a task based on repeatable procedures that have proven themselves over time for large numbers of people
Briefing
This refers to any activity that occurs prior to a simulation event such as an educational activity. This can include giving instructions, guidelines, or directives. This can be for the instructional staff as well as for the learners.
CABG
coronary artery bypass grafting
CHF
congestive heart failure
CHSE
Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator
CHSE-A
Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator-Advanced
CHSOS
Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist
CHSOS program
A term used throughout various documents and resources of the CHSOS certification. It is a general term used to encompass any and all activities related to the application, verification, certification granting, administrative, and other functions performed in the certification program.
Clinical scenario (simulated scenario)
A plan of an expected and potential course of events for a simulated clinical experience.
Computer-based simulation
Simulation activities that are performed via a computer program. These are similar to virtual reality simulations, but do not include additional interfaces between the learner and the computer.
Confederate
An individual other than the patient who is scripted in a simulation to provide realism, additional challenges, or additional information for the learner.
Construct validity
the degree to which a test measures what it claims, or purports, to be measuring
Content validity
The extent to which a measure represents all facets of a given social construct. It requires the use of recognized subject matter experts to evaluate whether test items assess defined content and more rigorous statistical tests than does the assessment of face validity.
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Core standards
The fundamental simulation education standards that have been developed by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Certification Committee as a cooperative effort with input from other simulation societies and groups.
Critical thinking
A disciplined process that requires validation of data, including any assumptions that may influence thoughts and actions, and then careful reflection on the entire process while evaluating the effectiveness of what has been determined as the necessary actions to take. The process entails purposeful, goal-directed thinking and is based on scientific principles and methods (evidence) rather than assumptions and conjecture.
Cueing
Information provided by instructors or designated participants in the simulation that helps the student progress through the simulation activity by providing information about the step the student is on or is approaching.
Cut Suit
The human worn partial task surgical simulator. In realistic scenarios it simulates the treatment of the 3 most common causes of preventable death on the battlefield, including hemorrhage from extremity wounds, tension pneumothorax and airway compromise.
debriefing
Activity that follows a simulation experience led by a facilitator wherein feedback is provided on the simulation participants’ performance while positive aspects of the completed simulation are discussed and reflective thinking encouraged.
DM
diabetes mellitus
DOB
date of birth
ECHO
echocardiography, echocardiogram
EEG
electroencephalography, electroencephalogram
Embedded participant
scenario guide, scenario role player, or confederate; assigned to help guide the scenario; The guidance may be influential as positive, negative, or neutral or as a distractor.
ETOH
ethyl alcohol
Evidence-based
Educational materials or methods that have been proven through rigorous evaluation and research.
Experiential learning
The process of making meaning from direct experience.
Face validity
the extent to which a test is subjectively viewed as covering the concept that it purports to measure
Facilitation
Any activity which makes tasks for others easy, or tasks that are assisted.
Feedback
Information given or dialogue between participants, facilitator, simulator, peer with the intention of improving the understanding of concepts or aspects of performance.
FHM
fetal heart monitor
FHR
fetal heart rate
Fidelity
Describes the level of realism associated with a particular simulation activity.
Formative evaluation
Evaluation wherein the evaluator’s focus is on the learner’s progress toward goal achievement. A process for determining the competence of a person engaged in a healthcare activity for the purpose of providing constructive feedback for the person to improve.
FSBS
finger stick blood sugar
Full body patient simulator
A realistic, full-body, wireless manikin which offers comprehensive clinical functionality to teach the core skills of airway, breathing, cardiac, and circulation management.
Full scale simulation
A device or scenario that allows simulation of tasks related to applicable learners for a given operational requirement. It is capable of simulating the operational environment (e.g. audio, visual, and tactile) to achieve maximum realism and training effectiveness.
guided reflection
The process used by the facilitator during debriefing that reinforces the critical aspects of the experience and encourages insightful learning, allowing the participant to assimilate theory, practice, and research in order to influence future actions.
haptic
Tactile feedback technology which takes advantage of the sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to the user.
High fidelity simulator
a broad range of full-body manikins that have the ability to mimic, at a very high level, human body functions
High-stakes assessment
assessment having important consequences for the test taker; serves as a basis for a major decision; Has the following; a single, defined assessment, has clear distinction between those who pass or fail, and has direct consequences for passing or failing.
HoTN
hypotension
H&P
history and physical
HTN
hypertension (high blood pressure)
Human factors
The discipline or science of studying interactions between humans and systems and technology. Covers all biomedical and psychological considerations.
Hx
history, history of
Hybrid Simulation
Integrating different types of simulation across different dimensions of applications, purposes, and target populations and assessing the impact or benefit of simulation-based training across the various dimensions.
In situ
educational activity that takes place in the actual patient care area/ setting in which the healthcare providers would normally function.
Interprofessional education
When students from two or more professions learn about, from and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes
IV
intravenous
Laparoscopy
minimally invasive surgery within the abdomen
LP
lumbar puncture
manikin (mannequin)
Part or full body simulators that can have varying levels of function and fidelity.
Microsimulation
Synonym for laptop or web-based simulation.
Mixed simulation
The use of a variety of different types of simulations simultaneously. Not characterized by the use of one type of simulation to enhance another, but rather the use of multiple types of simulation as part of the overall educational activity.
Modality
the type of simulation being used as part of the educational activity (e.g. task trainers, manikin-based, standardized patient, computer-based, virtual reality, and hybrid)
Modeling and simulation
The use of models (e.g. emulators, prototypes, simulators, and stimulators) either statically or over time to develop data as a basis for making managerial or technical decisions.
moulage
Makeup and molds applied to actors or manikins used to portray lesions, skin findings, and bleeding and traumatized areas.
MRSA
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
MVC
motor vehicle collision
NG
nasogastric (usually tube)
NKA
no known allergies
Nontechnical skills
Behavioral skills which can be categorized as either (1) skills of dynamic decision-making (e.g. anticipation and planning, use of cognitive aids, avoiding fixation errors) or (2) skills of teamwork and team management (e.g. workload distribution, communication, and/or role clarity).
Objective
Statement of specific measurable results that participant(s) is expected to achieve during a simulation-based learning experience.
On the fly approach
activities that develop or occur dynamically rather than as the result of something that is statically predefined.
Operator-driven approach
Relying on direct control by the operator of all the clinical data and features, sometimes augmented by software “scripts” to automate certain stereotyped responses in well-defined clinical situations.
OSCE
Objective Structured Clinical Examination: A station or series of stations designed to assess performance competency in individual clinical or other professional skills.
prebriefing/briefing
An information or orientation session held prior to the start of a simulation-based learning experience in which instructions or preparatory information is given to participants. Purpose is to set the stage of the scenario and assist participants in achieving scenario objectives. Activities include an orientation to the equipment, environment, manikin, roles, time allotment, objectives, and patient situation.
Pre-programmed scenario
Scenarios that include a combination of automated physiological and/or pathophysiological model(s) of the medical condition and a complex decision-making tree that reflects the patient’s response(s)to various clinical/medical interventions that lead to any number of possible clinical outcomes.
PRN
as needed
Problem-based learning
Small group learning with a facilitator where the students access and engage as a group with the virtual patient case.
prompt
A cue given to a participant in a scenario.
QSEN
stands for Quality and Safety Education for Nurses, a project for preparing future nurses with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) necessary to continuously improve the quality and safety of the health care systems within which they work
Readback
An order is given; it is written down and read back. It is then acknowledged by giver as correct.
reliability
The extent to which a measure is consistent across repeated tests and includes test-retest reliability correlation of tests applied more than once to same subjects, internal consistency correlation of subsets of scores measuring same construct, and inter-rater reliability degree of agreement between multiple raters of same test subjects.
remote feedback
Uses all the distant interconnection technology to bring together participants, observers, and instructors for a shared experience, without each and every one of them actually bringing themselves to a common observation/debriefing room.
RR
respiratory rate
SBAR
consistent, clear, structured, and easy-to-use method of communication between health care personnel; it organizes communication by the categories of: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations. It allows a clinical team member to easily and quickly describe the clinical presentation of a patient and make a recommendation for future action.
simulated patient/ standardized patient
In healthcare, ia an individual who is trained to act as a real patient in order to simulate a set of symptoms or problems.
simulated patient/ standardized patient
In healthcare, an individual who is trained to act as a real patient in order to simulate a set of symptoms or problems.
simulation fidelity
refers to the simulation- how the simulator is used in context to represent a patient care situation- rather than to the simulator device itself.
simulation fidelity
refers to the simulation- how the simulator is used in context to represent a patient care situation- rather than to the simulator device itself.
SOB
shortness of breath
Summative assessment
A process for determining the competence of a person engaged in a healthcare activity for the purpose of certifying with reasonable certainty that they are able to perform that activity in practice.
summative evaluation
Evaluation at the end of a time period, in which participants are provided with feedback about their achievement of outcome criteria; a process for determining the competence of a participant engaged in an activity.
summative feedback
Information provided by a facilitator regarding aspects of performance that are associated with the assignment of a grade, demonstration of competency, merit pay, promotion, or certification.
task fixation
In medicine, this results from a physician, in a crisis situation, getting fixated on a single procedure, when instead, he should team lead and delegate tasks to those who are qualified to perform the tasks at hand. Should call for assistance
Technical skills
The actual performance of patient treatment.
TPR
temperature, pulse, respiration
UTI
urinary tract infection
Validity
Translational outcomes. Educational effects measured at increasingly distal levels beginning in the classroom or sim lab and moving downstream to improved and safer patient care practices, better patient outcomes, and collateral educational effects, such as cost savings, skills retention, and systematic educational and patient care improvements.
virtual reality simulations
The simulated environment can be suimilar to the real world in order to create lifelike experience or it can differ significantly from reality