Introduction: The nursing process is essential for providing patient-centered care and is a first step for students learning to problem solve, make clinical decisions, and create care plans. Faculty referred to an article, "Teaching the Nursing Process, and the Wizard of Oz, OH MY!" to create a synchronous distance accessible, innovative lesson plan.

Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to describe an innovative teaching strategy designed to engage students in active learning while applying critical thinking skills and the nursing process to scenarios in "The Wizard of Oz."

Methods: Student groups of 10 worked in Zoom breakout rooms incorporating each phase of the nursing process into the care plan for an assigned character: scarecrow, cowardly lion, tin man, and wicked witch. Padlet, an interactive web application, promoted collaborative learning using digital technology. Students posted the care plans to the Padlet digital wall allowing the class to view real-time responses. After the group work, students rejoined the main session and discussed the nursing process with the faculty.

Results: The students and faculty had fun reviewing the nursing diagnoses and discussing the facts of the clips. For example, the cowardly lion stated, "I haven't slept in weeks" and encouraged Dorothy to look at the bags under his eyes. Students diagnosed the cowardly lion with ineffective individual coping related to insomnia and anxiety. The wicked witch was diagnosed with dysfunctional grieving precipitated by her sister's death, who was killed when the house dropped out of the sky.

Limitations: The possibility of internet connectivity problems exists when conducting classes via Zoom.

Conclusions: This innovative student-centered learning activity was fun, engaging, and encouraged beginning nursing students to apply the nursing process to develop care plans.

Jennie Alspach
DNP, MSN, RN, FNP-BC
Instructor
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing

Biography:

Jennie Alspach, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing.

She is honored to work at her alma mater as faculty in the undergraduate program. Her scholarship interests include innovative teaching strategies, enhancing critical thinking skills, and transition-to-practice for nurses. Dr. Alspach recently completed a quality improvement project evaluating factors that impact the nurses' transition-to-practice at UAB Hospital. She is passionate about enhancing the role transition to impact patient outcomes positively and reduce turnover.

Phone: (205) 837-1059
Email: jalspach@uab.edu

Co-Author(s):
April R Love, MSN, RN, RNC-OB, CNE, Instructor University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing

Cathy R Roche, PhD, RN, Associate Professor University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing