At the 2024 SIM Wars competition, 16 teams went head to head in two days of simulations to prove who could deliver the best patient care. Ultimately, the team known as Big Stick Energy took home the trophy and championship belt.
The members of Big Stick Energy, all hailing from Sentara Health in Williamsburg, Virginia, consisted of:
- Erica Thimons, BSN, RN, CEN
- Brittney Gladstone, BSN, RN, CEN
- Patricia “Frisha” Fyfe-Horne, BSN, RN, CEN
- Noah Coultrip, RN
- Kellie Lizotte-Smith, BSN, RN, CEN
- Angela Vanner, RN
On Day 1 of SIM Wars, competitors had to treat a patient with stroke-like symptoms.
On Day 1, teams were told the patient had been brought in by EMS exhibiting stroke-like symptoms. En route to the hospital, the patient had vomited and aspirated, requiring intubation. “Once he was in the department, we’re all thinking, ‘OK, stroke alert, this is easy. We’ve got to get a CT with contrast,’” said Gladstone. Unfortunately, the patient had an anaphylactic reaction to the CT contrast, requiring teams to pivot.
Teams were scored based on their actions (and inactions) in the scenario but also on how the individuals work together as a unit. Judges assigned point values on all criteria, and the top three teams at the end of Day 1 moved on in the competition.
After the simulation was over, judges gave teams feedback on their performance. “I think what spoke to me most was, at the end, [the judge] said, ‘Overall, what got my attention was your teamwork and communication, and how well you work together,’” said Gladstone. Big Stick Energy remained in the lead for most of Day 1 — until the team fell into a tie right at the end of the day. But it was still in the top three and able to advance.
Wearing a birthing simulator, the patient on Day 2 of SIM Wars played a pregnant woman who had been having back pain for several days.
Day 2 featured a live person wearing a birthing simulator, playing a pregnant woman who had been having back pain for several days. When the team pulled back the covers and saw that the baby’s head was already out of the birthing simulator, it had to shift its priorities. “She came in in active labor and had a precipitous delivery, but then had a postpartum hemorrhage,” said Vanner.
Now dealing with two patients, the team split up to help both simultaneously.
They worked on the scenario for 6 ½ minutes before the judges called time. The team had hit all of the necessary marks, and there was no negative feedback from the judges afterwards.
“So, we came out of there feeling like, ‘Oh my gosh, we might actually pull this off,’” said Gladstone.
The competition ultimately came down to Big Stick Energy and Banana Bags, the 2023 SIM Wars champion. At the Closing Session, Big Stick Energy was announced as the 2024 SIM Wars champions. The team from Virginia not only took home the coveted trophy and championship belt but also bragging rights.
“It’s kind of surreal,” said Gladstone. “Together we probably have 60 or 70 years combined of nursing experience. To be able to show what we do every day in a learning situation and be proud of ourselves for how great we are is really cool.”