The suitcase simulation: an effective and inexpensive psychiatric nursing teaching activity.

A tabletop simulation was developed as a patient safety activity that involved checking in a patient admitted to a psychiatric care unit. Students were second-degree (n = 79) and traditional (n = 53) BSN students. They were given suitcases or backpacks containing various items, and following a fictional hospital policy, they had to decide whether to give the items to the patient, place them in a secured area, or send them to the pharmacy or security personnel.

Taking the sting out of examination review.

Since using this method, examination reviews have focused less on arguing for points and more on comprehending the material. Examination reviews are already stressful for students and faculty; posting the examination on the walls is a quick and easy way to facilitate a difficult task.

Hollywood in the classroom: using feature films to teach.

Feature films have been successfully used in other disciplines to teach both undergraduate and graduate students but are seldom used in nursing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two classes of BSN student's perceptions of viewing films as an alternative to some clinical time in a psychiatric mental-health nursing course. A 12-item, 7-point Likert-type scale was constructed to assess students' beliefs about the value of films as a learning experience.