Virtual gaming to develop students' pediatric nursing skills: A usability test.
BACKGROUND
As competition for specialty clinical placements increases, there is an urgent need to create safe, stimulating, alternative learning environments for students.


OBJECTIVE
To address that clinical gap, our team developed a virtual game-based simulation to help nursing students develop their pediatric nursing skills.


METHODS
A usability study was conducted using the Technology Acceptance Model as a research framework.


METHODS
The study was conducted at a community college and included nursing students, nursing faculty/clinicians and two gaming experts.


METHODS
The two experts evaluated the game using a heuristic checklist after playing the game. Participants engaged in a think-aloud activity while playing the game and completed a survey and interview based on the Technology Acceptance Model to explore ease of use and utility of the game.


RESULTS
We found a high degree of user satisfaction with the game. Students reported that they had learned about pediatric care, they had become immersed in the game and they were keen to keep playing. Several design changes were recommended.


CONCLUSIONS
Usability testing is critical in the early stages of simulation development and the study provided useful direction for the development team in the next stage of game development.
Collaborative Nursing Degree Program, School of Community and Health Studies, Centennial College, P.O. Box 631, Station A, Scarborough, ON M1K5E9, Canada.
Margaret
M
Verkuyl
Collaborative Nursing Degree Program, School of Community and Health Studies, Centennial College, P.O. Box 631, Station A, Scarborough, ON M1K5E9, Canada. Electronic address: latack@centennialcollege.ca.
Lynda
L
Atack
Collaborative BScN, RPN Bridge, Post Graduate Nursing Programs and Simulation Centre Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing George Brown College, Toronto, ON M5A 1B6, Canada.
Paula
P
Mastrilli
Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada.
Daria
D
Romaniuk
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008875:Middle Aged; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games
E-simulation; Nursing education; Online; Pediatrics; Usability test