Because they are session-less, able to be assigned at any time and can have a Scoring rubric, Standalone scenarios are perfect for these use cases.

The hearing distressing voices simulation scenario

The Hearing Distressing Voices Simulation is a groundbreaking, empathy-building experience which helps students, mental health professionals and first responders understand the challenges and strengths of people who experience psychosis.

These scenarios are created for students to learn in a safe environment and this clinical experience requires immersing students in a representative patient-care scenario, a setting that mimics the actual environment with sufficient realism to allow learners to suspend disbelief and provide students opportunities to gain real or simulated experience with clients with schizophrenia and may reduce negative perceptions. 

Normally, students will work in pairs alternating the roles of patient and nurse (if not using standardized patients). As the patient, presenting for a first post- hospitalization appointment, the student wears headphones and listens to sounds simulating auditory hallucinations. As the nurse, the student attempts to interview and conduct a psychiatric nursing assessment. Students submit a written debriefing report after completing the simulation. The reports included personal reflections, identification of barriers to effective communication (as the patient and as the nurse), and how the simulation altered knowledge, skills, and attitudes about the patient with auditory hallucination. 

Using the Standalone evaluation in this case is helpful as you can attach an audio file to the evaluation and there is no need for a recorded session if the evaluation is formative.

Learning activities

Standalone evaluations can be your go to for any learning activity that needs to be submitted for a grade. This could be a homework assignment or an early assignment days before a SIM event.

Lab environments

A lab environment such as a Procedure Day where a grade is associated with each station. Procedure Days are typical where students rotate through different task trainers to practice their skills (venipuncture, ABG, injections, abscesses, etc.). Post-Covid, these "days" have been most helpful to medical students who cannot physically go into their clinical site to get credit for certain procedures they need to complete in year 1 and 2. They can "test-out" on task trainers on procedure days or other set lab skills days. 

Using the Standalone evaluation in this case is helpful since these days would not be recorded and are more of a full day event. If a recorded session is not needed, the student can fill out their Standalone evaluation checklist of completing those competencies.

Remote based activities and those not requiring a recorded session

Standalone evaluations are perfect for remote based activities or other activities that do not include a recorded session. Because the Standalone evaluation relies on nothing more than a manual assignment, it can be assigned at the will of the Educator regardless of the workflow.

This manual assignment feature can be more beneficial than a Course level scenario because the data from the Standalone evaluation can be sorted into a bucket within an existing course, and/or paired with other evaluations that an Educator might want to deliver as part of the activity.

Additionally, the Standalone evaluation is a great way to bridge the clinical environment with activities in the simulation/lab space. Having the Standalone evaluation information available alongside the simulation/lab tools and housing this information in one place makes demonstrating competencies much easier and, the reporting would be a great way to show student progression and curriculum alignment thereby providing an excellent solution in a time of increased focus on Competency-Based Education.