MSOE School of Nursing students channeled their inner Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes to solve murder mysteries with the help of science through an interprofessional education event (IPE) with Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) pharmacy students.

Through the IPE, teams of students were challenged to work together to review patient information and determine the cause of death of a patient in the hospital. Teams were comprised of both MSOE nursing students and MCW pharmacy students. Each student played a role, including the night nurse, day nurse, nurse’s aide, patient’s spouse, pharmacist, pharmacy student and physician. With each student receiving a different piece of the puzzle, they were required to work together to understand the entire scenario to determine how the patient died.

The IPE was coordinated by School of Nursing faculty Dr. Jane Paige and Dr. Havilah Normington-Gomes for accelerated second degree nursing student taking NU 395.

“This is the second year we are doing the murder mystery. Last year, due to COVID restrictions, the MSOE students were on campus and the MCW students were on their campus, and they had to work together over Teams,” explained Normington-Gomes. “We were excited to have the MCW students in person this year for the first live IPE in over two years!”

Through the IPE, students were required to interpret patient information, including physical assessment findings and lab diagnostic test results, communicate with the spouse, and look for a root cause of the death and how it could have been prevented.

The interactive session provided students with a hands-on experience that prepared them for their future jobs after graduation, as well as build upon skillsets they are working on in their other classes. The IPE challenged students to utilize their critical thinking skills, work and communicate in a group setting, and respect the unique roles and responsibilities of other health professionals.

Collaborating with MCW pharmacy students adds an additional value to the IPE. Not only do students get to meet new people, but they also get to practice communication, teamwork and get more comfortable working with other disciplines in health care — a skillset that will be invaluable in the workforce.