Trends in Research on Simulation in the Teaching of Nursing: An Integrative Review

Factors Associated with Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Simulation Learning among Nursing Students in Korea

This study aimed to examine the relationships between student satisfaction and self-confidence in learning (SCLS), the simulation design scale (SDS), and educational practices in simulation (EPSS) and to identify the influencing factors on SCLS in nursing students undergoing simulation learning. Of the fourth-year nursing students, 71 who were taking a medical-surgical nursing simulation course and voluntarily provided informed consent to participate in the study were enrolled. Data on SCLS, SDS, and EPSS were collected via an online survey after the simulation, from 1 October 2019 to 11 October 2019. The mean SCLS score was 56.31 ± 7.26, the mean SDS score was 86.82 ± 10.19 (range: 64~100), and the mean EPSS score was 70.87 ± 7.66 (range: 53~80). SCLS was positively correlated with SDS (r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and EPSS (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). The regression model for SCLS in nursing students revealed that SCLS increased with increasing EPSS and SDS, and that SDS and EPSS explained 58.7% of the variance in SCLS (F = 50.83, p < 0.001). Therefore, to improve the learning satisfaction and learning confidence of nursing students in simulation classes, it is necessary to consider simulation design and practice considering educational factors.

Beyond the technology: Applying the NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory in the context of aging simulation

BACKGROUND

Caring for older people has become a focus for simulation-based education. Specifically, aging simulation has emerged as an innovative and effective educational approach that utilizes aging-suits for nurses to gain insight into the aging process and the everyday difficulties faced by older people. There is limited evidence within the literature about how researchers and educators support decision-making processes in the design, implementation, and evaluation of aging simulation programs.

AIM

This is a theoretical development paper and its purpose is to explore the practical application of the Jeffries Simulation Theory in the design, implementation, and evaluation of an aging simulation program to contribute to knowledge development and guide educational practices for nurse educators and researchers.

RESULTS

The authors describe a practical application of the theory to an aging simulation program using the five key theory components: context, background, design, simulation experience, and outcomes. Specific theory strengths are highlighted in practical examples generated from the authors aging simulation interventional study example: engaging stakeholders, consideration of additional observer simulation roles, reflective debrief discussions, influence of facilitator and participant personal attributes, and outcomes beyond the participants.

CONCLUSION

The Jeffries Simulation Theory is well suited for underpinning the design, implementation, and evaluation of aging simulation programs.

Nurse educators perceptions of simulation teaching in Chinese context: benefits and barriers

Background

Although simulated teaching was introduced to China in the 1990s, it remains underused in nursing education. Determining how Chinese nurse educators feel about using simulation in their institutions is very important for faculty training and has the potential to influence simulation implementation.

Method

This cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken to identify the nurse educators’ experiences in the use of simulation from various regions of China. One hundred and thirty-six nurse educators provided demographic data and information about simulation implementation within their institutions and explored the perceived barriers and benefits of simulation usage.

Results

The survey data shows that 108 participants have used simulation in their work, but less than 92 (67.6%) of the respondents had used this teaching strategy more than ten times in last year. The study identified four factors hindering nurse faculty from simulation adoption: (1) concerns with student readiness; (2) the need for faculty team-building for simulation teaching; (3) lack of adequate simulation resources; and (4) thoughtful integration of simulation into nursing curricula.

Conclusions

Study data suggest that faculty training programs for simulation should be based on the nurse educators’ training needs, including systematically designed training topics, and the provision of hands-on learning simulation activities with expert feedback to help nurse educators achieve the competencies required for effective simulation-based education.

Psychometric testing of the Norwegian version of the Simulation Design Scale, the Educational Practices Questionnaire and the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale in nursing education

Introduction

Simulation-based learning is a well-established technique in nursing education. However, there is a need for reliable and validated evaluation tools across both national boundaries and cultural conditions. Such evaluation tools may contribute in identifying areas for improvement in simulation-based learning from the nursing students' perspective.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to test three widely used American questionnaires - the Simulation Design Scale, the Educational Practices Questionnaire, and the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale, for psychometric properties among Norwegian undergraduate nursing students.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a university simulation center in southern part of Norway. A total of 105 undergraduate nursing students participated, giving a response rate of 77%. An exploratory factor analysis was used to examine construct validity. Cronbach's alpha was applied in order to establish the questionnaires' internal consistency.

Results

The exploratory factor analyses displayed the same number of extracted factors as the number of subscales in each of the original American questionnaires. However, the item-factor structure differed from the original item-subscales. The Cronbach's alpha was > 0.7 for all three questionnaires, indicating acceptable internal consistency.

Conclusion

Psychometric testing of the Norwegian versions of the three questionnaires, the Simulation Design Scale, the Educational Practices Questionnaire, and the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale, could be used as valid instruments for nursing students to evaluate important aspects of simulation-based learning. This also makes it easier to compare evaluation results of SBL across languages and cultural boundaries. However, to confirm the construct validity of the factors extracted in this study, further multi-site studies are needed to perform a confirmatory factor analysis in a new, large sample.

Peripheral Venipuncture Education Strategies for Nursing Students: An Integrative Literature Review

This integrative literature review identified strategies to teach peripheral venipuncture to nursing students. The following databases were searched for primary studies: Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), PubMed, Web of Science, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), SCOPUS, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). The final sample was composed of 24 studies. The literature ranged from descriptive studies to controlled clinical trials and methodologic studies to construct products/instruments for teaching peripheral venipuncture. The most frequently identified teaching strategies were theoretical contents taught via theoretical lecture, e-learning courses, video lessons, and demonstration by specialists combined with practical exercises using a mannequin, human arms, and/or haptic devices. Despite the different methods used currently, the best patient outcomes were achieved when the student received the theoretical content in an educational setting before the practical training on a mannequin and/or a virtual simulator.

Service learning within community-engaged research: Facilitating nursing student learning outcomes

The objective of this manuscript is to describe a method of integrating baccalaureate nursing student service-learning experiences within a randomized controlled trial conducted in a community setting to facilitate student learning and expose students to the nursing scientist role. Placing students in a research service-learning experience involved several steps beginning with finding a nursing program for potential collaboration where this service-learning opportunity would be a natural fit with course content and formalizing the collaboration between the two institutions. Upon receipt of research grant funding, researchers and course faculty worked to navigate logistics and place students within the service-learning experience. After research training, 35 students assisted with intervention delivery and completed course assignments to document their learning. The collaboration described between a community-engaged research team from a research-intensive university and course faculty from a distant institution could be replicated with all types of nursing research.

Formal Training Efforts to Develop Simulation Educators: An Integrative Review

STATEMENT

Formal training for educators who use simulation-based education (SBE) is required by standards of best practice, simulation guidelines, regulatory, and accrediting bodies. Training efforts to establish educator competency for SBE are being offered. However, a systematic review of this body of literature has yet to be conducted. The purpose of this integrative review was to appraise formal training efforts of educators who use SBE. The aims were to summarize the training topics, describe the structure of training programs, and explore evaluation methods of educators. The New World Kirkpatrick Model guided the review. A PRISMA search approach yielded 2007 citations of which 38 met inclusion criteria. Analysis supports a formalized training process that uses a combination of didactic material, time for repetitive practice, and ongoing feedback with longitudinal and scaffolded delivery approaches. An identified gap in the literature is threshold levels for determining competency of educators. Recommendations for planning simulation training programs are provided.

"A privilege but also a challenge." Nurse educators' perceptions about teaching fundamental care in a simulated learning environment: A qualitative study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore nurse educators' perceptions about teaching fundamental care to undergraduate nursing students in a simulated learning environment.

BACKGROUND

Recent research has demonstrated that fundamental care is overlooked in nursing education, resulting in little empirical research on how to teach fundamental care within a simulated learning environment.

DESIGN

The study has a qualitative, explorative design. The principles of consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) were applied for reporting the methods and findings.

METHODS

Data were collected through participant observations and focus group interviews with nursing students, clinical nurses and nurse educators. The data were analysed using the qualitative content analysis method.

RESULTS

The core category "A privilege but also a challenge" represents the overall perception of nurse educators' perceptions about teaching fundamental care in a simulated learning environment. The core category is supported by two subcategories: "Fundamental care is important to nursing education" and "To set a good example," which represent the attributes and the role nurse educators have in helping students achieve their fundamental care learning outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Fundamental care can be taught to students by engaging them in an interplay between lectures and learning activities that are designed to enhance their skills during simulations in simulated learning environments.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nursing education should prepare students to develop the skills they will be applying when providing fundamental care in real life; thus, the students should learn how to deliver high-quality fundamental care.

Using Simulation Training to Promote Nurses' Effective Handling of Workplace Violence: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Workplace violence in the health care sector has become a growing global problem. Research has shown that although caregivers comprise a high-risk group exposed to workplace violence, most of them lacked the skills and countermeasures against workplace violence. Therefore, through a quasi-experimental design, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of situational simulation training on the nursing staffs’ concept and self-confidence in coping with workplace violence. Methods: Workplace violence simulation trainings were applied based on the systematic literature review and the conclusions from focus group interviews with nursing staff. Data were obtained from structured questionnaires including: (1) baseline characteristics; (2) perception of aggression scale (POAS); and (3) confidence in coping with patient aggression. Results: The results revealed that training course intervention significantly improved the nursing staffs’ self-perception and confidence against workplace violence (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The “simulation education on workplace violence training” as the intervention significantly improved the workplace violence perception and confidence among nursing staffs in coping with aggression events.

High-Fidelity Simulation: An Application to Psychopharmacological Training for the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Student

As the demand for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) continues to grow, innovative teaching strategies that can enhance competency learning with skill transfer into the clinical setting is essential. Educational programs must adequately prepare the student for the complexity of the clinical environment. Simulation is an educational approach that replicates aspects of the real world in a safe environment so that learners can engage in an interactive manner. High-fidelity simulation (HFS) has been identified as an effective teaching strategy and mechanism to transfer knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to the clinical setting. HFS uses a human patient simulator to immerse the learner in a contextual learning environment by engaging in a realistic clinical scenario to develop cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills through deliberate practice. This article describes the theoretical foundation, development process, case scenarios, and implementation of HFS, an innovative teaching pedagogy, in a Psychopharmacology didactic course for PMHNP.