Progress 09/15/03 to 09/14/05
Outputs
Description of Activities Performed Task 1: Develop Program Mary Derby, Principal Investigator led the development team in the process of identifying a project vision statement. The program focuses on preparing nursing assistants to offer not just physical but emotional support and to deliver respectful care to residents by recognizing and responding to their individual needs with confidence and competence. A preliminary description of the scenarios starts with the user having access to numerous resources that will guide their experience. For example, a tutorial will encourage the user to check their shift routine (the facilitys guidelines for tasks performed and services provided on each shift), the residents care plan summary (outlining their individual needs and preferences) and their assignment sheet (communicates unique, scheduled events for each resident such as doctors appointments or blood draws). With the information provided by these documents, the user can
make informed selections with regard to selecting the appropriate supplies, communicating with the resident or providing care. A quality of life gauge is visible on the screen at all times and choices made influence the gauge readings. Most importantly, choices made influence the customizable virtual elder. The elder then responds in a unique manner based on the criteria that define the character. The user must assess, and handle the consequences and outcomes of all choices. This is in direct contrast to a scripted encounter. At the closing of the scenario, the user is provided with a debriefing outlining their choices and providing appropriate remediation. Task 2: Evaluate Modules Evaluation of all components is central. The aesthetics of the course in addition to the specifications, use of multimedia, implementation and instructional design were evaluated. The evaluation of the prototype was completed using surveymonkey, an online survey software. The testers evaluated the 3D models
of objects, the environment, the interface, the scenarios, the dialogue and the assessment aspect of the program. Task 3: Revise and Update Modules Results from the evaluation are guiding the revision process. However, a new opportunity arose during Phase II of the project. One of pullUins collaborators and testers is providing additional funding to expand the nursing assistant program and to better meet the needs of their organization. This is good for both the quality of the program and the commercialization potential. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is providing $143,000 in additional funding to further develop the internet based training program to include an additional 16 hours addressing the clinical skills requirement for nursing assistant certification. pullUin software will still retain ownership of the program. This new development will mean some additional development time prior to commercialization. Task 5: Final Report The Final Report is be prepared by
Mary Derby with input and guidance from the development team. This report is respectively submitted.
Impacts
A flexible, interactive training method is important for nursing assistant trainees because it helps them grasp the material better. More knowledgeable students are more likely to successfully become certified as nursing assistants. Additionally, there is an apparent weakness of training programs in rural areas, which could be capitalized upon by this software if it can work with the large variety of different certification standards. In short, the core element this technology needs in this market seems to be flexibility. We estimate the total market size, at saturation and for all competitors, to be approximately three hundred schools educating two million students. This market size and our competitive opening have a limited duration in time. In light of these drivers, we see the window of opportunity for market entry as follows. Likely Window of Opportunity The likely window of opportunity begins now and will be open for the next few years. The expansion of this
market means that a method will likely need to be found to meet the increase in demand for nursing assistants. This technology can provide such a method through reaching more students in rural areas, but if there is a delay of more than a couple of years, market pressure will likely force some other solution to be adopted.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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