PharmaWise Geriatric Medication Challenge

Objective: The objective of the game “PharmaWise: Geriatric Medication Challenge” is to reinforce nursing students’ knowledge of geropharmacology by engaging them in an interactive and competitive learning experience. The game aims to enhance understanding of medication management, appropriate prescribing, and the unique considerations in geriatric pharmacology.

Game Components:

1. Game Board: A visually appealing game board representing various stages of medication management in geriatric care.
2. Question Cards: A set of question cards with multiple-choice questions related to geriatric pharmacology, medication safety, drug interactions, and age-related changes in drug response.
3. Scenario Cards: A set of scenario cards describing medication-related situations or challenges commonly encountered in geriatric care.
4. Game Tokens: Individual tokens or markers for each player to advance on the game board.
5. Timer: A timer or stopwatch to limit response time for each question.
6. Scoreboard: A scoreboard to track individual or team scores throughout the game.

Gameplay:

1. Divide nursing students into teams or play individually.
2. Each player or team selects a game token and places it on the starting point of the game board.
3. Players take turns rolling the dice and advancing their game token on the board.
4. When a player lands on a specific space, they draw a question card or a scenario card.
5. For a question card, the player reads the question aloud and has a designated time (e.g., 30 seconds) to select the correct answer from the given choices. If answered correctly, the player earns points based on the difficulty level of the question.
6. For a scenario card, the player reads the scenario aloud and, as a team or individually, formulates the best course of action or response related to medication management in the given situation. The instructor or other players can assess and provide feedback on the response.
7. Players continue taking turns, answering questions, and engaging with scenarios until a predetermined point or round limit is reached.
8. At the end of the game, the scores are tallied, and the player or team with the highest score is declared the winner.

Game Enhancements: To make the game more engaging and interactive, consider incorporating the following elements:

• “PharmaWise Power-ups”: Introduce special cards that grant players advantages such as extra points, skip turns, or immunity to negative effects.
• “Challenge Rounds”: Include rounds where players compete in timed challenges, such as matching medication names with their therapeutic classes or identifying potential drug interactions.
• “PharmaWise Showdown”: Designate a final round where players face off in a rapid-fire question round to determine the ultimate winner.

Benefits:

• Reinforcement of Knowledge: The game reinforces geropharmacology concepts, medication safety, and appropriate prescribing practices in a fun and engaging manner.
• Critical Thinking: Players analyze scenarios and make decisions based on their understanding of geriatric pharmacology principles.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: If played in teams, the game promotes collaboration, communication, and discussion among team members.
• Competition and Motivation: The competitive aspect of the game encourages active participation and motivates players to expand their knowledge and skills in geriatric medication management.

Note: The game rules and components can be adapted and customized based on the specific learning objectives, available resources, and preferences of the instructor or institution.