HIV and Contact Tracing: Impact of a Virtual Patient Simulation Activity

Screen-Based Patient Simulation: An Exemplar for Developing and Assessing Competency

BACKGROUND

Nursing education is moving toward competency-based education and assessment. Nurse educators will need to adopt strategies to develop and measure competence.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine if screen-based virtual patient simulation is an effective strategy to assist learners in developing competencies and subcompetencies required in nursing practice.

METHODS

Thirteen questions (6 assessment and clinical reasoning focused, 4 clinical judgment focused, 3 attitude and socialization to nursing focused), aligned with the competencies of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials, were developed for a pre-/posttest design to evaluate student competency development.

RESULTS

Senior nursing students (n = 52) participated; 1-tailed paired t test identified 12 of 13 items as statistically significant. Posttest scores were greater than pretest scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The change in mean scores from pre- to posttest suggests screen-based virtual patient simulation scenarios improve learners' competence in addressing the patient's physical and psychological comfort and decreased caregiver biases.

A Scoping Review of Approaches to Reduce Stigma and Discrimination Against People with HIV in Health-Care Settings in the United States: Few Recent Interventions Identified

This scoping review identified contemporary stigma-reduction studies across US health-care settings. Despite the significance of this problem, only 3 intervention studies were identified in the past 5 years. These studies highlight the value of intervening during formative training experiences and the importance of including interprofessional health-care providers in interventions. The findings relate to the novel approaches (eg, virtual patient simulations) that are used in interventions. The importance of using a participatory approach to intervention design is noted. Critical gaps in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma measurement and the lack of interventions are identified, laying a foundation for future programs and research.

The Lived Experiences of Saudi Nursing Students in Digital Clinical Experience: A Phenomenological Study

Background Novel digital methods of simulation are gaining popularity in nursing education in light of the limited access to clinical placement and expensive high-fidelity simulation technologies. Aim The aim of this study is to explore the lived experiences of Saudi nursing students in digital clinical experiences (DCEs). Methods A qualitative phenomenological research design, grounded in Husserlian phenomenology, was employed. Purposive sampling was utilized to select 21 participants actively involved in DCEs. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect rich, narrative data. Results The thematic analysis has yielded four themes, namely, "comfort and safety", "critical thinking and problem solving", "appraisal of knowledge", and "transition to practice." Conclusions The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about leveraging technology in nursing education, emphasizing the need for educators and policymakers to integrate digital tools that enhance the learning experiences of nursing students.

Impact of a Virtual Patient Simulation on Nursing Students' Attitudes of Transgender Care

BACKGROUND

Transgender individuals experience considerable prejudice and bias, creating barriers to health care.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a virtual patient simulation scenario of caring for a transgender adult on nursing students' attitudes and beliefs about transgender people.

METHODS

A validated 29-item instrument developed to assess an individual's view of transgender identity was administered in a pre-/posttest nonequivalent-groups design to junior- and senior-level nursing students.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were found between the control and treatment groups for the subscale human value.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings support experiential learning in nursing as an effective tool in teaching cultural competence and sensitivity when caring for transgender patients. Attitudes and beliefs of senior nursing students and junior nursing students toward transgender individuals differed, with senior students being more receptive.

Student nurses' perceptions and experiences in caring for people living with HIV/AIDS: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Caring for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) requires clinical experience and quality care delivery skills. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of nursing students in caring for PLWHAs.

METHODS

This qualitative descriptive study interviewed 18 student nurses who had cared for PLWHAs from 14 tertiary hospitals across 7 provinces in China through semi-structured telephone interviews.

RESULTS

Two themes emerged from the narratives: student nurses' perceptions and attitudes toward PLWHAs and student nurses' practical experiences with PLWHAs. Five theme clusters were revealed, namely "negative attitudes held before the care-giving," "a series of psychological struggles in care-giving," "favorable attitudes increased after the care-giving," "consensus on care delivery for PLWHAs," and "considerations regarding contamination reduction."

CONCLUSIONS

Findings shed light on the development and changes in student nurses' perspectives on PLWHAs throughout their clinical experiences. Student nurses' perceptions and attitudes toward PLWHAs progressed through three distinct stages, and positive changes were observed after care-giving. Participants' perceptions and practical experiences with patients with AIDS enable patients to receive fair and high-quality care and provide valuable insights for nursing educators better prepare HIV nurses.