Authors

  1. Cole, Kelly A. MSN, RN, CNE

Article Content

Students enter nursing programs with a general knowledge of basic infection control principles learned through general life experiences. In an effort to connect infection control concepts together, a game was created as part of a module focusing on high-touch items and hand hygiene importance. Fun delivery of classroom content has been positively correlated to student engagement, whereas traditional activities such as classroom discussions and team exercises rate lower.1 The development and use of innovative classroom practices can increase the level of learning that takes place as well as promote positive outcomes.2 In this activity, students choose a faculty-created playing card with a picture of a high-touch item they are comfortable touching on 1 side and are instructed to not turn it over initially. Students are encouraged to be daring and choose a card with which they might not be comfortable. Students then share which item they chose to "touch" and turn the cards over to see what pathogen they have been exposed to. The instructor then discusses each pathogen and how long it can live on inanimate objects, and the students review and practice hand hygiene. This activity is easily customizable, allowing for connection and reinforcement of multiple concepts, and has potential for multiple applications in nursing and other areas of health care education.

 

References

 

1. Tews MJ, Jackson K, Ramsay C, Michel JW. Fun in the college classroom: examining its nature and relationship with student engagement. College Teach. 2015;63(1): 16-26. [Context Link]

 

2. Solis OJ. Exploring innovative pedagogy to deliver financial education: a peer-to-peer event with students. Am J Bus Educ. 2018;11(4):63-70. [Context Link]