title: Using simulation learning through academic-practice partnership to promote transition to clinical practice: a qualitative evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of an innovative simulation education programme on nursing students' transition-to-practice experiences.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Academic-practice partnership is emerging as an important vehicle for improving nursing students' transition-to-practice. Using existing university resources, academic educators and alumni developed an innovative simulation educational programme known as the Simulated Professional Learning Environment (SIMPLE) to align the educational process with the realities of nursing practice. Educators and alumni collaborated to create and facilitate 15 hours of simulation sessions that comprised the learning platform for the SIMPLE programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive qualitative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were conducted in 2012 with 22 final-year nursing students completing their transition-to-practice clinical practicum. The interview transcripts were analysed using content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes were identified from the analysis: 'experiencing the role of staff nurse'; 'knowing how to'; and 'learning from the 'seniors'. Experiencing the role of staff nurse in the programme showed the nursing students what to expect and how to prepare for their roles. Knowing how to focus on holistic patient care, manage 'difficult' clients and communicate with other healthcare professionals were the learning outcomes gained from the programme. Learning from the 'seniors' about hospital work processes positively influenced the nurses' transition-to-practice experiences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides support for introducing the simulation education programme as an enhancement during nursing students' final year to improve their transition-to-practice experiences. A stronger collaborative relationship between academic educators and practising nurses could be further fostered by expanding this learning platform.
authors.affiliation: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Sok Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palham
authors.forename: Sally Wai-Chi
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Lai Fun
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Fui Ping
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: academic-practice partnerships; clinical practice; role of staff nurse; simulation; transition- to-practice