title: Practising on plastic people: Can I really care?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the experiences of undergraduate student nurses with high-fidelity Human Patient Simulation Mannequins (HPSMs) and their perceptions of empathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory case-study method was used to investigate the literature on empathy and the use of high-fidelity mannequins in nurse education. Two focus groups were conducted with eight third-year undergraduate nursing students in order to elicit responses to their experiences with HPSMs in their learning, especially in relation to empathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Undergraduate nurses found it challenging when using HPSMs in the learning environment to relate to the mannequins as real. Students reported that in their experience, the use of mannequins was not conducive currently to the development of skills necessary for positive interpersonal development of the nurse-patient relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Focus group data and the empirical literature suggest that more research needs to be conducted into the use of mannequins in the development of nurse-patient interpersonal skills. Educators need to make evidence-based and pedagogically sound decisions about the use and limitations of HPSMs in undergraduate nursing.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health , University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo , Australia.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: b Centre for Creative Industries and Technology, University of Newcastle , Callaghan , Australia.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: c School of Design, Communication and IT, Faculty of Science and Information Technology , University of Newcastle , Callaghan , Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balnaves
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins; D016544:Patient Simulation
keywords: empathy; mannequins; nurse–patient relations; nursing education