7 Questions to keep paramedic students on track during simulation

Updated September 7, 2016

Learn how to make the best use of training time and keep students on track with these questions during patient assessment scenarios

Patient assessment scenarios have three general phases — briefing, performance, and debriefing.

In the briefing phase, the educator or training officers explains the instructions, performance objectives and answer questions to clarify the scenario. A good briefing has an appropriate amount of detail, is specific and defines success — the point at which the scenario will be complete — and/or evaluation criteria.

During the performance phase, the instructor should intervene as necessary for safety reasons and to keep students progressing towards educational objectives. Training time is too valuable to let students wander too far from the desired instructional outcomes.

Keep students on track with these questions as they progress through the patient assessment scenario.

1. What safety hazards exist in this scenario?

2. How did you manage or mitigate those hazards?

3. What were your patient's primary assessment problems?

4. How did you manage those primary assessment problems?

5. What were the key findings during your secondary assessment?

6. What are your patient's problems?

7. Which problem is the top priority for treatment?

Remember your good questions will lead to good answers. If the student that answers the question goes off track, remind them to just answer the question you asked.