Featured Project
Step by Step: Redefining Patient Safety Against Falls
Audience: Nursing educators, newly hired nurses, experienced nurses
Responsibility: Instructional Design, Action Mapping, Storyboarding, Script Writing, Prototyping, eLearning Development Graphic and Visual Design
Tools Used: Articulate Storyline 360, MindMeister, Google Docs, Figma, and Affinity Designer
Problem
At Woodland Medical Center, patient falls have escalated into a serious crisis, primarily due to the inconsistent application of fall prevention protocols. This issue not only threatens patient safety but also drives up costs and leads to devastating outcomes.
Despite being on the front lines, new nurses often struggle with effectively implementing these protocols, increasing the likelihood of mistakes. In the past six months, patient falls have surged, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive, transformative solution to protect patients and better support nursing staff.
Solution
I proposed a self-paced scenario based eLearning as the best solution for the following reasons.
Flexibility: Nurses can access training modules at their convenience, accommodating their varying shifts and busy schedules, without disrupting their clinical duties.
Consistency: eLearning provides uniform content delivery, ensuring that all nurses, regardless of location, are trained on the same protocols and best practices for fall prevention.
Scalability: eLearning can easily accommodate large numbers of staff, ensuring that new hires and existing personnel receive up-to-date training as needed.
Risk-Free Environment: Scenario-based learning provides a safe, simulated setting for nurses to apply fall prevention protocols without the fear of causing harm. This approach allows them to gain confidence and improve decision-making in real-life situations where patient safety is at stake.
My Process
I completed this project using the ADDIE model. In the analysis phase, I interviewed nurses to gather insights on patient falls and safety. I identified key concerns and created an action map and storyboard. After collecting feedback, I designed wireframes and mockups in Figma, then developed and refined interactive prototypes through iterative feedback rounds before finalizing.
Action Mapping
For this project, I collaborated with a Registered Nurse, who served as my Subject Matter Expert (SME) to develop the action map and define a measurable goal. The goal we set was to reduce the incidence of patient falls through standardized protocols.
From there, the SME identified the top three high-priority actions that would serve as the foundation for this eLearning because it was most important to achieving this goal.
Text-Based Storyboard
I developed a text-based storyboard as a blueprint for the project, designed to immerse the learner in the experience through storytelling and engaging "what if" scenarios. The narrative centers around a newly hired nurse (the learner), who faces challenging decisions during their first shift at the hospital.
Much like in real life, every decision has lasting consequences. When the learner makes the correct choice, they experience a positive outcome and progress to the next part of the story.
If the learner selects the wrong option, they encounter negative consequences and must "try again," which redirects them to the original question. For moments of uncertainty, the learner can seek guidance from a mentor character, who offers advice and helps them make informed decisions.
Visual Mockups
I created visual mockups in Figma for its ease of iterating design elements and incorporating feedback. I chose green and blue for their strong associations with healthcare—green representing health and healing, and blue symbolizing trust and cleanliness, which are ideal for a medical setting.
To ensure accessibility and readability, I tested various color combinations for text boxes and buttons before finalizing them in the style guide.
I designed wireframes with a focus on spacing and layout for each slide type and used these wireframes as the foundation for my high-fidelity mockups. I selected character vectors to allow for customization in different scenarios and to maintain a consistent style throughout the e-Learning.
As I began developing each slide, and experimenting with alignment, design, colors, and placement, the design process became increasingly exciting as I watched the story come to life.
Interactive Prototype
After I received feedback on the functionality, I finalized the product using Articulate Storyline 360. The prototype included the introduction, a complete scenario with prompts, question choices, and consequences, as well as the beginning of a second scenario.
During this development phase, I partnered with instructional designers and applied user testing feedback to optimize the learning experience and improve its overall flow.
Full Development
Based on the feedback from the prototype, I moved on to full development. I designed the project for an immersive, intuitive user experience throughout. The programming includes dynamic animations when transitioning from one slide to the next.
Results and Takeaways
Since this was a conceptual project, the process concludes with full development. However, in a real client scenario, I would evaluate the project's impact using Kirkpatrick’s Model. This would involve several steps:
First, I would gauge learner satisfaction through post-training surveys or feedback forms. Next, I would assess knowledge acquisition by administering post-tests or quizzes. Following that, I would evaluate how effectively learners apply the new knowledge or skills in their roles through follow-up assessments and observations. Lastly, I would measure the training’s impact on organizational performance by tracking key business metrics aligned with the training objectives.