title: Outcomes of clinical simulation for novice nursing students: communication, confidence, clinical judgment.
abstract: The use of clinical simulation in nursing education provides many opportunities for students to learn and apply theoretical principles of nursing care in a safe environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate simulated clinical experiences as a teaching/learning method to increase the self-efficacy of nursing students during their initial clinical course in a prelicensure program. An integrated, quasi-experimental, repeated measures design was used. A sample of 112 students completed surveys, indicating their confidence in various skills necessary for postpartum and newborn nursing, both before and after the simulation experience. Results indicated that students experienced a significant increase in overall self-efficacy (p < .01). Students also experienced an increase in confidence in assessing vital signs (p < .01), breasts (p < .01), the fundus (p < .001), and lochia (p < .001), and in providing patient education (p < .001). Three themes that emerged in the qualitative results were communication, confidence, and clinical judgment.
authors.affiliation: Grand Valley State University, Kirkhof College of Nursing, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. bambinid@gvsu.edu
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bambini
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Washburn
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008348:Manikins; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D011181:Postnatal Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*