Clinical Simulation in Social Work: Lessons Learned From an Interprofessional End-of-Life Simulation

The use of simulated clinical practice in social work education offers opportunities to enhance practitioner skill, assess competence, strengthen interprofessional collaborations, and address disparities in access to high-quality learning opportunities. This article describes the process by which social work faculty and students joined a medical simulation of end-of-life conversations in an acute care setting. Social work students joined peers in respiratory therapy and nursing in simulated conversations with family members of an adult facing end-of-life decisions (portrayed by standardized patient actors). To examine the benefits and challenges of interprofessional education for social work students, we utilized an exploratory focus group design involving social work faculty who participated in the integration process. Key themes from the focus group reflections included the value of simulation as a high-impact learning method, its role in helping students navigate the emotional and psychological stress of challenging conversations, and the benefits of interprofessional collaboration. Faculty also identified barriers, including concerns about student preparedness, increased faculty workload, and scheduling difficulties. Reflections highlighted impacts of the collaboration, including increased understanding of professional roles.