IPE TEACHING

Here are a few JBE interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaboration (IPC) initiatives that took place in the classroom this Fall in addition to some tips and tricks on how to increase collaborative efforts in the classroom.

Mental Health Nursing Wellness Workshop

In efforts to help cultivate resilience in mental health nursing students, Deborah Pina-Thomas and her clinical team connected with Nicole Weis from the Lydia Hill Resilience Institute and members of the Center for Active Living to create an interactive, interprofessional 1/2 day wellness workshop. The workshop was held on the first day of class to emphasize to students the importance of prioritizing their own health and wellbeing during difficult times. The session provided students with positive coping strategies and immersed students into activities of mindfulness, physical activity, and nutrition to increase their levels of self-efficacy to help buffer academic, personal, and professional stressors. If anyone else is interested in implementing a training or workshop similar to this please reach out and we can provide additional information and brainstorm what could be possible (pwhitney@uccs.edu).

Intro to Health Professions IPE

This interprofessional faculty team including Andrea Hutchins (HPNU), Denise Millot (NUR), Gina Burton (HSCI), and Steve Ferguson (HPNU) have been working together to introduce JBE students to the value and importance of collaboration. Each of these faculty teach an introduction to professions class for their department and has integrated an IPE module into their class. Each class receives a guest lecture on the core competencies of IPE and then students from each class are placed on IPE teams to collaborate across classes on a case study. The purpose of this initiative is to provide students with a foundational understanding of the IPE core competencies and the key skills are required to work collaboratively to solve complex problems. The data show that through the implementation of the guest lecture and case study assignment, students have reported a higher level of understanding of the different disciplines in our college using the SPICE-R2 as a validated measure. As a faculty team, we are evaluating and evolving this process to meet the needs of our students, and to help increase the collaborative readiness of the future workforce.

The Diabetic Athlete IPE Classroom Activity

The 3rd year Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) and Graduate Nutrition Program students came together to complete a diabetic athlete IPE/C classroom activity. The feedback provided by the students included the value of learning from and with other professions, and paved the way for them to feel more comfortable approaching other professionals with questions in the future. Respecting and understanding the roles and responsibilities of other disciplines is key to IPE and IPC. This learning activity, in combination with our JBE Simulation Center are key ways to incorporate interprofessional education and collaboration into classes. If you are interested in incorporating IPE into your class but not sure where to start, please reach out (pwhitney@uccs.edu).

10 Ways to Integrating IPE into the Classroom

10 Ways to Integrating IPE into the Classroom

  1. Integrate the updated (2023) IPE Core Competencies into class learning objectives.
  2. Collaborate with others through the Simulation Center.
  3. Add an IPE guest lecture, activity, classroom assignment, or online IPE modules.
  4. Discuss the Quintuple Aim and how IPE/IPC can help advance health equity.
  5. Explore the intersection of IPE and DEIB through lectures, case studies, and/or patient experiences.
  6. Encourage students to attend the JBE Professional Development Event:
    • April 9th from 11:30-1:00 in Hybl 312.
  7. Connect with faculty in other departments that may teach similar classes.
  8. Identify IPE & IPC as key components of leadership in upper division classes.
  9. Work with other faculty to develop case studies which require students to problem solve.
  10. Utilize on campus wellness programming to introduce students to different disciplines.


If you are interested in brainstorming ideas please email Paige or other IPE leaders in the college to brainstorm future collaborations!

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