The simulated clinical laboratory is part of a senior clinical course at the College of St. Catherine focusing on nursing intervention in client situations that encompass multiple problems or require rapid decision making, communication, and intervention. The simulation includes video and telephone role playing. (CH)

An elective on poverty and its relevance to health is offered to nursing and non-nursing students at Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina to help students gain insight into what it meaans to be poor. Student experiences include reading, observation, discussion, simulation through game playing, and clinical experiences. (EA)

Preliminary studies using performance-based tools to validate student competence in interpersonal relations and in using all of the steps of the nursing process in a specific care situation are being conducted in the baccalaureate nursing program at Salem State College in Massachusetts. (EA)

Simulated experience in interviewing and medical evaluation of patients was developed to help nursing students learn assessment skills, using simulated patients (mostly other university students) to "practice" on. While reactions varied, students' overall comments indicated that the learning experience was beneficial. (MF)