This article reports the development and results of a simulation programme adopted in order to prepare students for clinical practice. The programme was developed specifically for first year nursing students. It was designed to contextualise learning and reinforce and facilitate the integration of new skills and knowledge. Students in this programme completed a practice
workshop followed by a simulated clinical duty. Students worked in groups of three rotating through the roles of patient, nurse and observer. Over a four day period, students admitted patients, planned and provided nursing care, collaborated with members of a multidisciplinary team and planned safe patient discharges.
Anecdotal evidence from students suggested that significant learning occurred over the four day period. In order to confirm and capture the nature of the learning, research was conducted over an 18 month period. Student participants completed questionnaires providing feedback about their learning experiences. In total 158 students provided feedback. Results showed that: practical skills, documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, realism, patient experience, clinical judgement and therapeutic skills were areas in which their learning was enhanced (McNamara, 2014).
The overall aim of this study was to explore the role of simulation in nursing students’ learning, specifically in the areas that students identified.