INACSL Standards of Best Practice for Clinical Simulation Infographic: Professional Integrity
The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) has developed the “INACSL Standards of Best Practice: Simulation” to advance the science of simulation, share best practices, and provide evidence-based guidelines for implementation and training. Previously we covered, and continue today with the Standard of Professional Integrity. Professional integrity is demonstrated and upheld by all involved in healthcare simulation-based experiences and is a crucial component of creating sim labs that improve outcomes.
About the Standards
The INACSL “Standards of Best Practice: Simulation” provide a detailed process for evaluating and improving simulation operating procedures and delivery methods that every simulation team will benefit from. Adoption of the “INACSL Standards of Best Practice: Simulation” demonstrates a commitment to quality and implementation of rigorous evidence-based practices in healthcare education to improve patient care by complying with practice standards.
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INACSL created a Simfographic to represent each INACSL Standard of Best Practice: Simulation. The Simfographics provide a graphic representation and the criteria for each of the INACSL Standards of Best Practice: Simulation. Publication of the 2016 INACSL Standards of Best Practice: Simulation was made possible by an educational grant from CAE Healthcare.
Professional Integrity Infographic and Breakdown
Professional integrity refers to the ethical behaviors and conduct that are expected of all involved throughout simulation-based experiences. Professional integrity is a person’s internal system of principles encompassing a number of additional interrelated attributes such as confidentiality, compassion, honesty, commitment, collaboration, mutual respect, and engagement in the learning process.
Professional integrity is doing what is right in the face of strong countervailing temptation or pressure and regardless of who is or is not watching and continues indefinitely even after the conclusion of the simulation-based experience.Despite one’s role in a simulation-based experience, whether as a participant, facilitator, debriefer, faculty, operator, or other role, all involved with the simulation-based experience are responsible for acting with professional integrity and developing self-awareness of how one’s personal and professional behavior affects those around him or her.
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Editor’s Note: Posters of the simfographics, along with flipbooks and other items, can be purchased in the INACSL Store. Simfographics are available in English, as well as French, Mandarin and Polish.
All involved in the simulation-based experience need to discuss the attributes of professional integrity especially that of confidentiality. The level or degree of confidentiality is dependent on the policy established by the institution. Organizations must have established methods of sharing student performances. There may be a duty to report inappropriate behaviors dictated by legal, ethical, and/or institutional regulations.
Everyone becomes vulnerable to a certain extent when they are placed within a simulation-based experience; it is therefore imperative that an unequal power balance be recognized and professional boundaries maintained so the knowledge obtained from the simulation learning outcomes are not compromised.
Boundary crossings may be inadvertent, thoughtless, or purposeful but these judgments can affect grades, relationships, jobs, positions, and careers. There is responsibility to act and monitor professional integrity across all disciplines and professions. Potential consequences of not following this standard can lead to unanticipated behaviors and/or interference with simulation-based outcomes. Participants may have an inability to be fully immersed in the simulated based experience altering or biasing an individual’s performance. It can affect a career, self-esteem, create a sense of distrust in professional relationships, loss of a safe learning environment, and alteration of group dynamics.
Criteria Necessary to Meet This Integrity Standard
- Foster and role model attributes of professional integrity at all times.
- Follow standards of practice, guidelines, principles, and ethics of one’s profession.
- Create and maintain a safe learning environment (see INACSL Standard on Facilitation).
- Require confidentiality of the performances and scenario content based on institution policy and procedures.
More About INACSL
The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) is the global leader in transforming practice to improve patient safety through excellence in health care simulation. INACSL is a community of practice for simulation where members can network with simulation leaders, educators, researchers, and industry partners. INACSL also provides the INACSL Standards of Best Practice: Simulation, an evidence-based framework to guide simulation design, implementation, debriefing, evaluation, and research.
View the Entire Integrity INACSL Standard on the INACSL Journal Website!
Lance Baily, BA, EMT-B, is the Founder & CEO of HealthySimulation.com, which he started while serving as the Director of the Nevada System of Higher Education’s Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas back in 2010. Lance is also the Founder and acting Advisor to the Board of SimGHOSTS.org, the world’s only non-profit organization dedicated to supporting professionals operating healthcare simulation technologies. His co-edited Book: “Comprehensive Healthcare Simulation: Operations, Technology, and Innovative Practice” is cited as a key source for professional certification in the industry. Lance’s background also includes serving as a Simulation Technology Specialist for the LA Community College District, EMS fire fighting, Hollywood movie production, rescue diving, and global travel. He and his wife Abigail Baily, PhD live in Las Vegas, Nevada with their two amazing daughters.
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