The article, “Building Intraprofessional Partnerships Between Undergraduate Nursing and Nurse Practitioner Students Through Simulation,” appears in the Journal of Clinical Simulation. The research was supported by the Eva Stearns Faulkner Simulation Education Research Funds.

Gina Robertiello, clinical assistant professor of nursing, Rich Feinn, professor of medical sciences, Tyler Traister, associate professor and director of the undergraduate nursing program, and Ingrid Bell, clinical associate professor and director of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program, co-authored the article.

The study highlights an important opportunity in nursing education: preparing future nurses to collaborate across levels of the profession before they enter the health care workforce.

By bringing undergraduate nursing and nurse practitioner students together through simulation, the approach gives students an opportunity to develop communication and teamwork skills while gaining a better understanding of one another’s roles.

Those skills are increasingly important in a health care environment that depends on coordinated, team-based care. Simulation also provides a safe setting for students to practice collaboration and decision-making without placing patients at risk.

The work demonstrates how simulation can extend beyond clinical skills training to help prepare students for the communication, teamwork and professional relationships they will encounter in practice.