L1003: SCPL Psychological Safety – UTHealth Houston Participants (Internal)
- Effective Date: August 2026
- Date Reviewed: $date.format('MMMM yyyy',$!{policyDetail.dateReviewed})
Subject
Psychological Safety
Scope
All Cizik School of Nursing (CSON) faculty, SCPL staff, and UTHealth Houston faculty/facilitators and learners/observers
Responsible Office
Simulation Council
Responsible Executive
Dean, Cizik School of Nursing
Policy and General Statement
All Cizik School of Nursing (CSON) faculty, Simulation and Clinical Practice Lab (SCPL) staff, and other participants (i.e., UTHealth Houston faculty/facilitators and learners/observers (non-CSON), external faculty/facilitators, and external learners/observers) facilitating, participating, or observing simulation activities in the SCPL will be provided with psychological safety during simulation activities.
Definitions
Definition of Psychological Safety
SCPL is committed to ensuring a psychologically safe, supportive, and positive learning environment for all UTHealth Houston participants involved in simulation activities. Psychological safety is defined as “a feeling (explicit or implicit) within a simulation-based activity that participants are comfortable participating, speaking up, sharing thoughts, and asking for help as needed without concern for retribution or embarrassment” (Lioce et al., 2020, p. 38).
UTHealth Houston Participants include:-
- CSON Faculty
- CSON SCPL Staff
- UTHealth Houston Faculty/Facilitators
- UTHealth Houston Learners/Observers
Procedure
A. CSON Faculty, SCPL Staff, UTHealth Houston Faculty/Facilitators and UTHealth Learners/Observers
- It is expected that CSON faculty, CSON SCPL staff, UTHealth Houston Facilitators and UTHealth Learners/Observers are aware of the SCPL’s psychological safety policy and procedure.
B. Simulation Activity Overview
1.Before any simulation activity, it is expected that the lead CSON faculty/lead UTHealth faculty/lead facilitators for the simulation course or event will provide faculty/SCPL staff/facilitators with an overview of the simulation activity (objectives, simulation modality, scenario/case/activity, fidelity, facilitation approach, prebriefing, debriefing, evaluation if applicable).
2.Before any simulation activity, it is expected that the faculty/facilitators for the simulation activity will provide their learners/observers participating in the simulation activity an overview of the simulation activity (objectives, prebriefing, facilitation method, debriefing, evaluation if applicable).
3.A CSON faculty, SCPL staff, UTHealth Houston Faculty/Facilitator or UTHealth Learners/Observers can opt out of the simulation activity if they feel it may lead to psychological distress or psychological safety concerns.
C. Compromised Psychological Safety - CSON Faculty, SCPL staff, UTHealth Houston Faculty, Facilitator and UTHealth Learners/Observers
1. If a CSON Faculty, SCPL staff, UTHealth Houston Faculty/Facilitator and UTHealth Learners/Observers feels psychological safety is compromised during any phase of the simulation activity, the person may verbally communicate to another faculty/facilitator member or to the students/learners participating in the simulation activity that they need to exit the simulation/skills lab.
2. If the CSON Faculty, SCPL staff, UTHealth Houston Faculty/Facilitators or UTHealth Learners/Observers cannot return to the simulation activity, the person will inform the Assistant Dean for Simulation/Clinical Nurse Educator using the QR code for SCPL Assistance Needed.
3. The Assistant Dean for Simulation/Clinical Nurse Educator/Lead Faculty will assess the person’s psychological safety concerns.
4.If the CSON Faculty/SCPL staff/UTHealth Faculty/Facilitator/UTHealth learner/observer
cannot return to the simulation activity due to psychological safety concerns, the person will be sent home if deemed safe and referred to UTHealth Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – 713 500 3317 or UTHealth Student Health and Counseling - (713) 500-5171.
5. If the CSON Faculty/SCPL staff/UTHealth Faculty/ Facilitator /UTHealth learner/observer cannot return to the simulation activity due to psychological safety concerns and cannot be sent home safely, the Assistant Dean for Simulation/ Clinical Nurse Educator will call EAP and follow the course of action advised by EAP or call Emergency Crisis Hotline for Students and follow the course of action advised.
6. If external faculty/facilitators/learners/observers cannot return to the simulation activity due to psychological safety concerns, the person will be sent home if deemed safe and referred to their organization’s assistance program.
If external faculty/facilitators/learners/observers cannot return to the simulation activity and cannot be sent home safely, their emergency contact will be notified to take the person home.
7. A SCPL Psychological Safety Incident Report will be completed to document the event (Appendix A).
8. The lead faculty/lead facilitator/Assistant Dean for Simulation/Assistant Deans for the Undergraduate and Graduate Department/Associate Deans for the Undergraduate and Graduate Department will follow up with the outcome of the person’s psychological concern event.
Contacts
Chair of Undergraduate Department
Chair of Graduate Department
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Department
Assistant Dean for Graduate Department
Assistant Dean for Simulation
UTHealth Student Health and Counseling
Emergency Crisis Hotline for Students
UTHealth Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Exhibits
Lioce L. (Ed.), Lopreiato J. (Founding Ed.), Downing D., Chang T.P., Robertson J.M., Anderson M., Diaz D.A., and Spain A.E. (Assoc. Eds.) and the Terminology and Concepts Working Group (2020), Healthcare Simulation Dictionary –Second Edition. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; September 2020. AHRQ Publication No. 20-0019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23970/simulationv2
