EMR simulation system to train future nurses

Charles Sturt University has developed an electronic medical record simulation system, HealthiERSim, to help nursing students develop skills in real-life clinical documentation processes.

The system is designed to enhance students’ health digital literacy by providing a risk-free virtual environment to practise use of digital tools and electronic documentation processes.

Associate Professor of Nursing and Simulation Lead in the Charles Sturt School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences Pauletta Irwin said realistic patient scenarios and simulated digital workflows provide essential skills to confidently navigate and use digital health technologies beyond graduation.

“This technology prepares all our students for effective collaboration and patient-centred care in their future nursing roles,” Irwin said.

“HealthiERSim also offers rapid feedback, with built-in comprehensive assessment and feedback tools providing students with detailed insights into individual and team performance, facilitating targeted guidance and enhancing students’ readiness for professional practice.”

Simulation co-developer and technical officer in the Faculty of Science and Health Amy Barnett said, “Internationally, this technology is rapidly advancing but we have what is considered best on market in Australia and competitors are nipping at our heels to catch up.”

In the most recent teaching session, approximately 3000 students were able to put the HealthiERSim system to the test.

Second-year Bachelor of Nursing student in Port Macquarie Eloise Miller is one of those students and said she found the technology increased her confidence in her ability to document patient information electronically.

“HealthiERSim is a really useful way to practise documenting as a nurse as it is a great reflection of actual Electronic Medical Records (EMR) with tabs that allow us to document observations, progress notes and the like,” Miller said.

“It is so useful to move away from paper charts in our pracs to documenting online, as this is more of what we will be encouraged to use in the real world when we graduate.

“As a second-year student, it is a great relief to be able to practise this skill now.”

Irwin reiterated that HealthiERSim allows students to learn using realistic patient cases, spanning diverse healthcare contexts.

“The aim of this is to really prepare our students for the workforce by giving them exposure to scenarios they may, and likely will, encounter in their future nursing roles while developing critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills,” she said.

The technology is being used at Charles Sturt’s Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst and Dubbo campuses.

Image caption: Mariam Barengayabo and Eloise Miller with the HealthiERSim technology in Port Macquarie. Image: Supplied.