IPE students gain interprofessional experience during Friday Night at the ER
Students enrolled in the IPE elective course recently had the opportunity to demonstrate their systems thinking skills by playing Friday Night at the ER. Friday Night at the ER is a tabletop game where students act as hospital managers for the Surgery Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency Room, and step-down unit and must work together to maintain efficiency, quality, and financial performance in the hospital.
This is the third year the course has been offered to Pharmacy, Social Work and Nursing students but the first time this stimulation has been offered.
“It has been rewarding to offer the course and watch enrollment increase each year,” said Dr. Aline Saad, an instructor for the course.
The simulation received incredibly positive feedback from the students for highlighting the importance of interprofessional teamwork and thinking outside the box.
“I learned that sometimes you can think beyond the initial structure provided in order to better care for patients,” shared a student.
Another student commented, “The simulation highlighted how decisions in one department can significantly impact others. It became clear that viewing the system as a whole, rather than focusing solely on individual tasks, leads to better overall outcomes. I learned the importance of balancing patient care quality with operational efficiency. Over prioritizing one over the other led to unintended consequences, such as delays or compromised patient satisfaction. This reinforced the need for strategic thinking and long-term planning. Success in the simulation relied heavily on effective communication and teamwork. Sharing information transparently, aligning priorities, and making joint decisions were essential to managing the workload and reducing stress among team members.”