We understand that taking the SLA can feel stressful. This may be especially true if you have limited or no experience with simulation in a health-care learning or testing environment. This is why we created the Get SLA Ready! course. It is a self-paced, online, interactive course, available through the applicant portal. We strongly recommend that you complete it before taking the SLA.
The course will explain:
- why simulation is used in the SLA; and
- what to expect before, during, and after your SLA.
It includes interactive tools, such as virtual views of the simulation labs. These tools will help you become familiar with the assessment room layout and the equipment you may see or use, including anatomical manikins.
The course also explains who you will meet and interact with during your assessment. These people include:
- an assessor, who is an experienced health-care professional who will evaluate your skills and knowledge objectively; and
- a standardized patient, a person who is trained to act like a real patient.
You will discover practical ways to manage stress or anxiety before and during your SLA, including how to manage your time, communicate clearly, and stay calm, positive and focused.
Please note: The Get SLA Ready! course does not guarantee your assessment result. It does not cover the nursing skills or knowledge needed for the assessment, and does not show you the exact assessment questions and scenarios. It will help you understand what the SLA environment and processes will be like.
COURSE MODULES
The Get SLA Ready! course is made up of the following modules:
- Introduction to simulation and the Simulation Lab Assessment (SLA)
- Preparing for the SLA
- General SLA guidelines
- Virtual lab tours (interactive simulation lab tours
- SLA time management
- Working with your Assessor
- Working with Standardized Patients
- Working with manikins (mannequins used for medical purposes)
- Caring for your health and wellness before, during, and after the SLA
Plus – a module for RPNs (Registered Psychiatric Nurses) about the RPN-specific Simulation Lab Assessment.
Read more about each module HERE.
TAKING THE Get SLA Ready! COURSE
You can find the Get SLA Ready! course in your applicant portal, once we have received all required documents from you and you are approved for scheduling.
- Log into your Inspire Global Assessments Account Sign In
- Click the “Get SLA Ready! Your Guide to the Simulation Lab Assessment” tile to open the course.
You can complete it at your own pace and at times that work best for you. Because the course is self-paced, you can stop and return to it later if you need more time. As an Inspire candidate, you can take the Get SLA Ready! course more than once.
If you have trouble opening or using the course, or have any questions before your SLA, email the Inspire team at prepare@inspireassessments.org.
Questions & Answers
1. How do I access the Get SLA Ready! course?
You can find the course in the applicant portal once we have received all required documents from you and you are approved for scheduling. Follow these steps:
- Log into your Inspire Global Assessments account: Sign In
- Click the “Get SLA Ready! Your Guide to the Simulation Lab Assessment ” tile to open the course.
- Go through the course in order, or use the sidebar (or the symbol if accessing on mobile phone) to view other modules.
[Editor’s note: the symbol of three horizontal lines is varyingly referred to as the “hamburger button” (most common), the “menu icon”, “navigation bar”, and “sandwich symbol”. ]
2. Why don’t I see the course in my portal?
The course will become viewable in your portal once we have received all required documents from you and you have been approved for scheduling.
To view the status of your case, log into your portal and select “Track my Progress” – once you have reached “Payment and Scheduling” status, the course will appear in your portal.
The following case statuses mean you are not yet ready for scheduling and the course will not yet be visible in your portal: New Referral, Referral Registration, New Application, Document Submission, Visa Submission, Eligibility Review.
3. How long will it take to complete the Get SLA Ready! course?
The course is self-paced and divided into modules by topic. You can stop and return to the course later if you need more time. How long it takes to complete the course will depend on any previous knowledge you have about the topics covered and if you want to repeat any modules. We recommend you begin the course in the weeks prior to your SLA.
4. How many times can I take the Get SLA Ready! course?
As an applicant, you can take the course as many times as you want.
5. How will the Get SLA Ready! course help me to get ready to take the SLA?
We understand that taking the SLA can feel stressful. This may be especially true if you have limited or no experience with a simulation health-care learning or testing environment. This is why we created the Get SLA Ready! online course. The course will help you understand what will happen on your SLA day, including what the assessment environment will look like and what the process for the day will be.
6. Do I have to take the Get SLA Ready! course in order to take the SLA?
We strongly recommend that you complete the course before taking the SLA, but the course is not required. Previous candidates who took the course before completing their SLA said it helped them feel more prepared and more confident about what to expect.
7. I am having trouble accessing the Get SLA Ready! Who can I contact for help?
If you have trouble opening or using the course, please email Inspire for help at prepare@inspireassessments.org.
8. Does the Get SLA Ready! course include examples of questions or scenarios that will be part of the SLA?
No. It does not cover the nursing skills or knowledge needed for the assessment, and does not show you the exact assessment questions and scenarios. It will help you understand what the SLA environment and processes will be like.
9. Do I need any special software to take the Get SLA Ready! course?
No. You do not need special software. You will need an internet connection available through a device such as a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Some activities may be better viewed on a computer or tablet, rather than a mobile phone; this will be indicated in the course.