Incorporating IPE and simulation experiences into graduate speech-language pathology training

Abstract Ineffective interprofessional collaboration between healthcare workers can negatively impact patient care. At a time when people are living longer with chronic health conditions, it is becoming increasingly important that university programs incorporate interprofessional education into student training. Despite this urgency, a disconnect remains between current training programs and healthcare workforce needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect inclusion of nursing (NSG) students and simulation experiences into a graduate-level speech-language pathology (SLP) course had on increasing the knowledge and skill level preparedness of SLP students entering their hospital externships. Students participated in a series of four classes that incorporated interprofessional education (IPE)-simulation experiences. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest experimental design was selected to collect SLP student responses. Results suggest SLP graduate students felt significantly more knowledgeable as a result of the simulation experiences regarding the roles and responsibilities of NSG and SLPs in patient care and significantly more prepared in their skills for entering a hospital as a medical SLP intern.