A gaggle of 38 nurses, seven Lego constructing block kits, and 45 minutes was all our nursing skilled improvement group wanted to enhance employees communication and affected person security. Sport-based studying (GBL) through Lego® constructing is a well-received coaching modality with a evaluation of literature displaying the potential to extend teamwork, communication, and comprehension (Warburton et al., 2022).
Lego® Critical Play®, a particular type of GBL, is a “facilitated, communication and problem-solving instructing method utilizing Lego® constructing blocks to make use of the idea of ‘hand data’ to show cognitive ideas” (Lego®, 2025). GBL is a frequent coaching modality our nurse schooling division makes use of for the quarterly expertise day. Our quarterly expertise days are coaching days devoted to very important coaching necessities. We have now used escape rooms, group Jeopardy, and role-plays, however our employees requested for one thing totally different. Our group held a brainstorming session, throughout which we determined to make the most of Legos® to show triage and communication expertise.
The Thought for Lego® GBL
The concept for Lego® GBL in our facility was based mostly on a essential incident tabletop train attended by nursing residents. Our nurse residents wanted to finish and expertise a mass casualty incident triage, however we have been unable to contain them within the precise coaching train. I thought of recreating the essential incident utilizing a Lego® hospital and emergency division mannequin. We used Lego® minifigures as our key gamers and victims: we had an ambulance, a stretcher, and an overturned truck.
Using Lego® GBL studying addresses key parts of communication required for extremely functioning groups.
- Workers Engagement. The coaching energized the employees, prompting them to run the state of affairs a number of occasions.
- Workforce Effort. The bodily nature of the constructing blocks fosters a powerful working atmosphere that revolves round a shared psychological mannequin.
- Important pondering. The group makes key choices on triage utilizing restricted info, following the triage pointers, and counting on clear communication.
Lego® GBL and Communication Coaching
Our group was looking for an revolutionary method to instructing communication expertise past a standard code group train. I immediately thought again to how profitable the Lego® essential incident tabletop train went and advised the group we should always think about using this for all our learners.
I then carried out analysis and located three articles outlining tips on how to create an academic train and its confirmed efficacy (Bethel et al., 2021; Lambert et al., 2023; Warburton et al., 2022). We started our design by making a timed constructing state of affairs that concerned 13 bricks and eight distractor bricks, which aren’t required to finish the construct. We then determined we wished to have three distinct roles in our constructing group:
- Workers Nurse or Builder. This individual was the one one that may see the construct and contact the Lego® constructing blocks. The builder was behind a blinder and couldn’t see the written directions from their group members. The builder can solely create the construct based mostly on verbal directions from the runner.
- Reduction Nurse or Runner: This individual was answerable for verbal communication between the employees and cost nurses. They might not see the construct directions or the construct itself, they usually couldn’t bodily work together with the Lego® construct.
- Cost Nurse or Diagram Holder: This individual was answerable for being the one one that may see the construct directions. They handed on the verbal directions to the runner. The cost nurse was behind a blind and can’t go away their workstation.
Projected Outcomes of Coaching
In creating this chance, I initially considered what our outcomes could be. First, I wished the learners to be engaged and to have information to assist the necessity for future coaching. Second, I wished the groups to verbalize that they improved communication of their groups. Third, I aimed to show the ideas of Excessive Reliability Group (HRO) communication to boost affected person security. Lastly, I briefly touched on the significance of speedy course of enchancment and using standardization paperwork (Customary Work and Customary Working Procedures) to make work extra constant and secure.
Construct Time: The whole lot is Superior!
Our group facilitated the coaching, consisting of seven expertise days, with a mean of 15-24 individuals per group. We launched the rules for the exercise and divided the groups into three teams. After the preliminary construct, we carried out debriefings and reviewed the builds. All of the builds have been inside 50% accuracy of the template, and no group completed earlier than the five-minute time restrict.
Subsequent, I offered a short 15-minute studying on (1) communication principle, (2) operating a speedy course of enchancment, and (3) teamwork constructing. The groups had 5 minutes to do a group huddle. The aim of the group huddle is to speak a shared psychological mannequin of a job to make sure all members of the group have understanding. They recognized that they wished to make adjustments: (1) eradicating the blinders, (2) offering all group members with the construct directions, and (3) permitting all group members to the touch the Legos®. The group employed more practical communication strategies in the course of the second construct. All groups utilized the three Cs of high-quality communication (clear, concise, and full). Most groups completed inside two minutes, with all groups attaining 100% accuracy with the template mannequin.
Subsequent Steps in Facility Lego® GBL
I plan to current this challenge to our nursing evidence-based council for additional evaluation and consideration. Within the meantime, 5 further items have requested this coaching by word-of-mouth promoting. In response to those requests, I’ve revised the directions in order that I may prepare different facilitators to run a 45-minute session. Our HRO and high quality employees have expressed curiosity in formalizing this as a part of our Pathway to Excellence drive.
Conclusion
Educators can use block studying as a tactile method for learners to witness the outcomes of their “mushy expertise” coaching, which focuses on communication and teamwork. Lego® GBL supplies a enjoyable, partaking, and novel means for healthcare staff to expertise competency coaching. Lego® GBL and Lego® Critical Play® provide methods for groups to work together in a fashion that reduces stress by eradicating the excessive stakes of conventional simulation-based schooling.
Michael Brakel, RN-BC, is a Registered Nurse (RN) serving with the Veterans Affairs-Northern California Well being Care System (VA-NCHCS) as a Nurse Educator. He has labored with the VA-NCHCS in varied capacities, together with Utilization Administration RN, Utilization Evaluation RN, Group Care RN, Affiliate Professor, and Major Care Psychological Well being Integration (PCMHI) RN Care Coordinator. Moreover, he has labored as a Nurse Marketing consultant with the VA Workplace of Inspector Basic (OIG), serving as a hotline group member and group lead. Mr. Brakel holds superior levels in administration and psychology. He graduated from Hawaii Pacific College with a level in nursing. Mike is licensed in Managed Care Nursing, Psychiatric-Psychological Well being Nursing, Nursing Skilled Growth, and Nursing Case Administration. He holds certifications as a Licensed Skilled of Affected person Security and a Licensed Skilled in Healthcare High quality along with his nursing credentials. Resilience, compassion fatigue, nurse retention, and the appliance of measurement-based screening in psychological well being care are his most important analysis matters. Earlier than coming to the VA, Mr. Brakel retired after 25 years in america Air Drive Nursing Corps, specializing in Behavioral Well being. Mike served as a nurse, cost nurse, and schooling specialist serving on inpatient items at Travis Air Drive Base, California, and the San Antonio Navy Medical Middle. His final roles within the Air Drive have been serving because the Air Drive lead Psychological Well being Nursing Educator and because the Deputy to the Air Drive Marketing consultant to the Surgeon Basic for Psychological Well being Nursing.
Dr. Julia VanderMolen is a Professor for the Public Well being program at Grand Valley State College and a Visiting Assistant Medical Professor with the College of the Pacific, Faculty of Well being Sciences. Her analysis examines the advantages of assistive expertise for people with disabilities in public well being. She serves as a board member of the Incapacity Advocates of Kent County and is an energetic member of the Incapacity Part of the American Public Well being Affiliation (APHA). Her present analysis focuses on exploring the well being and medical companies out there to people with mental and developmental disabilities.
References
Bethel, E. C., Marchetti, Ok. A., Hecklinski, T. M., Daignault-Newton, M. S., Kraft, Ok. H., Hamilton, B. D., Faerber, G. J., & Ambani, S. N. (2021). The LEGO™ train: An evaluation of core competencies in urology residency interviews. Journal of Surgical Training, 78(6), 2063-2069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2021.05.011
Lambert, N. J., Luo, X., & Ola, A. (2023). Figuring out me, figuring out you: Self-reflection and understanding variety for efficient teamwork Lego® constructing exercise. Administration Instructing Evaluation, 10(1), 21-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/23792981231190589
Warburton, T., Brown, J., & Sandars, J. (2022). Using Lego® Critical Play® inside nurse schooling: A scoping evaluation. Nurse Training Right this moment, 188(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105528
