Pediatric simulation and the development of entry level safe practice in nursing students

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Simulation offers an important alternative for clinical education, it provides a safe practice environment and allows for high instructor control of the environment. The purpose of the study was to investigate how simulation contributes to the development of entry-level safe practice in junior level baccalaureate nursing students. Entry-level clinical safe practice was measured using the Educational Resource Incorporated Nursing Care of Children exam. The study used an experimental approach with 26 students in a clinical experience and 25 students in a clinical/simulation mix experience. A mixed model ANOVA was used to compare the group means of the post test.

Findings and Conclusions: There were no significant differences found on any measures of entry-level safe practice between students who received a 100% clinical rotation and students who received a 20/80 simulation/clinical mix. This finding is significant to nursing education, primarily because it demonstrates that clinical in the pediatric setting can be simulated at least in a 20/80 mix.