ESU Health Sciences and Theatre Students Participate in Interactive Patient Care Exercise

East Stroudsburg University students majoring in nursing and exercise science got a glimpse into the unpredictability of patient care during a role playing exercise that saw theatre majors pose as ailing victims, concerned family members and unruly partners.

In addition to providing a unique setting for theatre majors to hone their craft, the interdisciplinary exercise on April 2 gave senior nursing students and exercise science graduate students valuable experience in advanced communication, problem solving and use of soft skills like patience and understanding, said Professor of Exercise Science and Exercise Science Department Chair Shala Davis, Ph.D.

“The whole purpose is to get these students primed and ready to go so that when they get out there into their careers, they’ve already had exposure to these nuances and can draw on a past experience to help them navigate through potential challenges,” Dr. Davis said.

Much like preparation for a traditional production, theatre students were assigned roles, given scripts and participated in a walkthrough.

Scenes lasted 10-15 minutes and featured a nursing or exercise science student as the healthcare professional, and two theatre students playing the patient and someone with a connection to the patient.

Only the theatre students knew what the scene would entail, forcing participants like Joey Stofanak to think on their feet.

“It helped me tap into the same mindset you want to keep when you’re out there working,” said Stofanak, an exercise science graduate student from Bethlehem, Pa. “You don’t want to get too outside of yourself. You want to be mindful that the patient’s needs come first. If they give me a difficult time, that’s not something I should be taking personally because they’ve just gone through a traumatic experience.”

Stofanak said the experience differed from the students’ typical clinical experiences because in those situations, the clinician supervising them would often step in if a patient became disruptive or unstable.

“You’re not really sure if you know how to handle that when the pressure’s on you,” he said. “So being able to work with real-world scenarios and put in some practice really helped grow my confidence.”

Brian De Los Santos, a sophomore majoring in theatre and psychology from Pocono Farms, Pa., played the role of a patient’s half-brother and was encouraged to pressure the attending student with questions and demands.

De Los Santos said he enjoyed the opportunity to explore his versatility while supporting fellow Warriors who are training for careers in an important profession.

“I want to help these new professionals advance in life by showing them that not every patient will be black and white in behavior or age,” he said. “Every patient is different, and they need to know what to do in any case.”

Like De Los Santos, Kaylene Vasquez jumped at the opportunity to act in a role that was unlike any other she’s held before.

“If it gives me more experience in the career field of my choice then I’m almost always more than interested, but it was also a great learning experience for the students who participated in the simulation,” said Vasquez, a sophomore theatre major from the Bronx, NY. “It was truly beautiful being able to work together even though our fields of study are pretty different.”

The scenes were recorded and will be reviewed so students can pinpoint things they did well or need to improve upon, Davis said. She hopes it will be the first of many similar exercises to come, she said.

“It’s three departments collaborating in something that’s cutting edge and innovating,” Davis said. “It’s really what ESU is all about: getting students prepared to go out and make an impact in their jobs and to do it with the best skills we can give them.”

The exercise was held on-campus in ESU’s Dale and Frances Hughes Foundation Community Health Education and Simulation Center. Located in the DeNike Center for Human Services, it provides hands-on training and inter-professional practice opportunities for students and local healthcare organizations.

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