Have your aides concentrate on this!
Have your aides concentrate on this!
Game teaches universal precautions inside-out
There may be plenty of "Concentration"-type games out there, but few are as thorough as the universal precautions game created by a retired Georgia education manager. Before retiring from the home care industry in the spring, Agene Parsons, RN, BSN, MPH, wrote a game that tests and sharpens aides' knowledge of policies and procedures related to universal precautions, infection control, and bag technique.
"This game is one of the home health aide inservices for the year," says Parsons, who served as director of quality improvement and education for Housecall Medical Resources of Atlanta.
Based on the old TV show hosted by Hugh Downs, the game includes everything an inservice would except for a post-test. "To me, the test was their ability to answer and match the questions," she says. She created instructor guidelines; game rules; objectives; 3.25-inch by 3.75-inch game cards with questions, answers, and numbers; and an instructor's list of game matches. (See pp. 155-158.) She made the cards on a computer, six to a page with perforations, making them easy to separate. "I didn't make a game board, but I gave agencies instructions on how they can stick these game cards on a chalkboard or poster board."
Before the game, staff are given study packets. (See p. 159.) Divided into teams, players match questions to answers, earning another turn when they're correct. The team with the most cards wins. Parsons shared her game with Homecare Education Management. Here are the basics:
Objectives:
Upon completion of this program, the participant will be able to:
· Recall information gained from reading the study packet prior to playing the game.
· Identify policies/procedures on universal precautions, infection control, and bag technique.
· Identify measures which may be used by the home health aide to prevent the spread of infection.
· Differentiate between the causes of AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B.
· Describe the procedure for bag technique in the home.
To the instructor:
Home health agencies are required to provide inservice material on such information as infection control, universal precautions, AIDS, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, etc., each year to update staff and ensure adequate knowledge base regarding these topics. A game format provides a little more fun for staff when presenting this information on an annual basis. (Bag technique is so closely related to these issues it is included in the game even though it is not required to be taught annually.)
For a game like "Concentration," "Jeopardy," or "Trivial Pursuit" to be an effective learning tool in a short period of time, information in the game should be distributed ahead of time in the form of study packets so participants can feel more prepared to compete. Along with the information printed here, include copies of related policies and procedures from both the operations manual and the clinical procedures manual. Include policies from the operations manual (i.e., any policy related to universal precautions, infection control, tuberculosis, HIV, and hepatitis B) as well as policies and procedures from the clinical policies and procedures manual (i.e., bag technique and hand washing). By including copies of these policies in the study material, you will be informing the aide of agency policies relating to these topics, as well as relaying valuable subject information.
This material should be given to employees for independent study about a week or two prior to the scheduled inservice. (If given too far in advance, employees may forget to read it or misplace it.) At the time they receive the study packet, employees should be told that they will be utilizing the information in the packet to play a game at the inservice meeting and that prizes will be awarded to the winning team.
Throughout the week before the inservice, offer creative reminders to these employees to study the material. Some agencies may find it helpful to divide the group into two teams when the study packets are distributed. Team captains and names also may be selected at that time so the spirit of competition can build prior to the inservice. Instruct the team captains to encourage their teams to study harder in order to win.
Methods of team play:
1st method: The team captain helps keep team spirit up and acts as a cheerleader. With the captain's help, the team arranges itself in a line-up. Each member takes a turn in order of the line-up and selects cards without help from any other team member.
2nd method: The team captain selects a different person each time in no specific order. The captain may take into consideration each individual's knowledge base in the selection. How ever, no one may be chosen a second time until each person on the team has had a chance to participate. The person selected can receive no help from the other team members in making choices.
3rd method: The captain consults with the entire team before making any decision on which cards to choose. The captain calls out the cards chosen by the team. After consulting with the team, the captain calls out the answers.
Supplies needed:
· index cards (3 x 5), optional
· Post-it Stick (a removable adhesive glue stick)
· large surface (such as a grease board, blackboard, poster board, smooth blank wall, table top, etc.)
· prizes
Purpose of game:
To match question cards with correct answer cards. The team making the most matches wins the game. The participants must know the answers to the questions and remember where the appropriate questions and answers are located on the layout in order to make a match.
Layout instructions:
Select the number of cards needed for the game, depending on group size. The more cards used, the harder it will be to remember where the matching cards are. Carefully separate the number cards on the perforated lines. (If you plan to play the game frequently, you may increase the cards' durability by laminating them.) Lay the cards in even rows vertically and horizontally. Be sure to have the correct answer card for every question card you use (if you do not use the entire number provided). Mix the question and answer cards within the layout. Game cards can be reused any number of times by mixing them up in different layouts. Apply the Post-it Stick to the backs of the question and answer cards before placing them on the surface chosen (see suggestions in "supplies needed" section, at left). By using the Post-it Stick, the question and answer cards can be pulled off easily and repositioned and or replaced as often as needed. Just add more of the Post-it Stick to the back of the cards as needed. Apply the stick to the tops of the number cards (back side, similar to a Post-it Note), and stick these on top of the question and answer cards to cover them up. Keep the stick with you during the game in case you need to apply more to the backs of the number cards as the game progresses and cards are removed and replaced. However, the glue will last a long time.
Game rules:
1. Decide which team will go first (toss coin, draw straws, etc.).
2. Decide which method of team play to use (see "methods of team play," p. 154).
3. The first team begins by selecting any number. The instructor pulls off the cover number and reads the card out loud for the group.
4. The team then selects another number. Again, the instructor pulls off the cover number and reads the card out loud. The instructor then announces whether this is a match or not (see instructor's answer sheets, pp. 155-158).
5. If there is no match, the next team repeats the above process, calling out one number at a time. Wait until the first card has been uncovered before calling out the second number. (If the first two cards match, it will be due to luck, not because of knowledge and concentration skills.)
6. If there is a match, the team gets to play again, calling out two more cards, one at a time. The instructor should take the time to read the question or answer card out loud each time a number is called. (This repetition and verbalization serves to reinforce the learning process.)
7. Each team captain keeps a tally of his/her team's correct matches.
8. The team completing the game with the most matches is the winner and is given a prize.
Note:
This game may be played with as few as two people. If so, you may choose to lay the question and answer cards on a table face down and let the two people take turns turning up two cards each time. When one gets a match, he/she may turn up two more. The turn continues as long as matches are made. When no match is made, the other person proceeds.
If time permits, replace the cards on the layout surface in another layout mix and play another game. (If all the cards were not used in the first game, the unused cards may be mixed in with some of the cards used in the first game.)
Prizes may include inexpensive gag items, candy, cookies, etc., (enough for each team member). These may be placed in plastic bags and kept in a large grab bag for each person to reach in and "grab," or just given to the team to distribute. The instructor may choose to have the "losers" serve the "winners" a dessert at the next inservice. With creativity, you may come up with many ways of rewarding the winners. This is certainly optional for the agency.
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