Week 6: The First Levels
Image: an illustration of the patient in the game showing a happy expression
A Flowchart of the first three levels
Game Script
INTRO
The game begins with a brief orientation from the Nurse Supervisor. She gives an introduction to the patient, to the game elements and to the rules. The main rules are:
1) The most important aspect of the job is to maintain the patient’s airway.
2) Assess the patient at the beginning and end of each shift and periodically during the shift. Assessment includes taking vitals and visually examining the patient and any devices being used.
LEVEL ONE
The first shift begins. The player meets Bailey, an 18 month old child with a tracheostomy. Bailey is happy and playful. The player begins an assessment and finds that Bailey’s vitals are good. As part of the assessment the player will complete a puzzle to use the pulse oximeter. This unlocks the vitals dashboard.
Pulse Oximeter puzzle (draft idea)
The pulse ox consists of these objects in this order: the pulse ox machine, the on button, the patient cable, the sensor cable, pulse ox tape, and the patient’s toe. The player must assemble these objects in the correct order by noticing the connections. Each connection will have shapes or dots that relate to an end of the connecting piece. If the player makes an incorrect connection, all of the pieces separate. When the player assembles the puzzle, she can push the on button to turn on the readout. The successful completion of the puzzle will cause the vitals dashboard to appear. The nurse supervisor will come in to explain that dashboard.
The player discovers that Bailey needs a diaper change. The player will earn a star for the diaper change, if completed. The player will be prompted to consult the care plan and discover that it is time to give medicine.
Medicine puzzle
The player must find the dosage on the medicine bottle and stop the syringe plunger at the correct dose. There are three medications and the bottle must be matched to the correct syringe. The plunger keeps moving and gets faster the longer that the player waits. If the wrong amount is drawn up, an error sound plays and the puzzle resets. If any one syringe resets three times, all of the syringes are discarded and the game starts over. When the player draws up the correct dosage in three syringes, she can drag it to Bailey to finish the task.
After giving the medicine, the game prompts the player that the shift is nearly over and that they need to assess the patient and record their actions and observations in the Chart. The chart will remain accessible throughout the game. The player records their actions in the Chart.
END OF LEVEL ONE
After closing the chart, the game goes to a level summary screen to provide feedback as the status of the nurse’s title, wage, and stars.
LEVEL TWO
The next level begins. The player conducts an assessment by looking at the patient and the vitals dashboard. The patient is a little sad looking and there is a breathy sound. The player will choose to suction Bailey or will be prompted if they don’t choose this action.
Suction puzzle
There is a vague illustration of the suction machine in the care plan and it shows how the air flows through the machine. The player will search the shelves to locate all of the parts of the suction machine and assemble it. If the machine is not correctly or completely assembled and the player turns it on, there will be a visual cue of where the air is escaping. Once the machine is assembled, it stays assembled for the rest of the game.
The second part to this puzzle is suctioning the patient’s trach. This is the part that will repeat in successive levels. The player must find the trach depth in the care guide and move the suction catheter out to that length. The player must remove the cap from the trach, insert the catheter and put a finger over the open hole to create the suction. When the player completes this action, a reward sound will play, the breathy noise will stop but Bailey will cry. (Often little kids don’t like the feeling of being suctioned.)
The player may perform a variety of actions but using the toys to cheer up Bailey will earn the nurse a star.
END OF LEVEL TWO
No other actions are required so the nurse will choose the Chart to record her actions and finish the level. The summary screen gives feedback. The nurse will earn a promotion based on how many stars she has earned.
