Black Cloud Game: Nursing Critical Thinking Game
The Black Cloud Game™ is an immersive board game developed by Julie Lang and Amy Schotte, two Nurse Residency Program Coordinators, with the Center for Pediatric Innovation at Children’s Mercy. It was designed to help hone critical thinking skills related to the practice of nursing in medical-surgical and critical care settings. In the Black Cloud Game™, players take on the role of nurses tasked with managing a designated number of patients during their shift. Each player navigates through patient scenarios, utilizing their clinical knowledge, delegation confidence, and prioritization skills to provide optimal care.
The Black Cloud Game™ can be used for individual skill development or group training sessions and fosters meaningful conversations among players, encouraging them to articulate their reasoning behind task prioritization and patient management.
Through interactive gameplay, nurses gain valuable insights into their decision-making processes, enhancing their ability to juggle multiple tasks and patient acuities with confidence and competence.
This game is perfect for pediatric nurse educators, nurse leadership, nurse residency programs and more. Black Cloud Game™ is available on PedsMrkt.com for hospitals and nursing education programs to purchase here.
The Center for Pediatric Innovation at Children’s Mercy partnered with two Nurse Residency Program Coordinators, Julie Lang and Amy Schotte, to help bring their idea to life. As Transition to Practice content experts, the Nurse Residency Program Coordinators recognized the need for newly licensed nurses to improve their critical thinking skills.
The Black Cloud Game™ not only makes the learning process engaging but also creates a psychologically safe environment where newly licensed nurses can practice critical thinking, prioritization, and delegation without fear of judgment from peers or making mistakes in the clinical area. By combining educational theory with interactive elements, the newly licensed nurses’ competencies progressed utilizing a method that is meaningful, safe, and fun.
How to play the Black Cloud Game™
In the Black Cloud Game™, players take on the role of nurses tasked with managing a designated number of patients during their shift. Each player navigates through patient scenarios, utilizing their clinical knowledge, delegation confidence, and prioritization skills to provide optimal care.
At the start of their shift, players organize their tasks and patient care plans, strategizing to address varying acuities and medical needs using teamwork and appropriate resources. However, as the game progresses, unexpected challenges arise with the introduction of “black cloud” cards. These cards disrupt the initial plan, simulating real-life scenarios where nurses must adapt and reprioritize in the face of emergent situations.
Starter card:
Medical Surgical card:
With the situation cards tailored to medical-surgical and critical care nursing, Black Cloud Game™ prompts players to engage in discussions and decision-making processes that mirror the complexities of clinical practice. By navigating through diverse patient scenarios and unexpected challenges, players develop the critical thinking skills necessary for effective nursing care delivery. Leaders can create additional tasks and resources unique to the players’ nursing environment for even more realistic scenarios.
Black Cloud Game™ is an educational and information tool and does not serve and should not be used as a substitute for a health care professional’s advice, judgment, or training.
Meet the innovators
Julie Lang, MSN, RNC-NIC, NPD-BC
Julie is a registered nurse with diverse experience in critical care nursing, clinical leadership, and nursing professional development. Practicing in nursing professional development since 2019, Ms. Lang holds an MSN in Nursing Leadership and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Leadership. Ms. Lang serves as a Nurse Residency Program Coordinator for an ANCC Practice to Transition Program Accredited with Distinction Nurse Residency Program at Children’s Mercy Kansas City.
Amy Schotte, MSN, RN, CPN, NPD-BC
Amy is a registered nurse with diverse experience in pediatric nursing and nursing professional development. Practicing in nursing professional development since 2016, Ms. Schotte holds an MSN in Nursing Education and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Organizational Development. She is also a certified leadership coach and Nursing Professional Development Specialist. Ms. Schotte served as a Nurse Residency Program Coordinator for an American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Practice to Transition Program accredited Nurse Residency Program at Children’s Mercy Kansas City until 2024 and is presently with Children’s Hospital Association.