Abstract:

By approximating clinical practice within nursing education, simulation provides real-time opportunities for students to work through complex patient-care situations, ideally receiving evaluative feedback that promotes increased confidence and competence. Increasingly, simulation is playing an essential role in supporting educators to facilitate nursing students’ learning of complex concepts and skills and readying them for clinical practice (Cant & Cooper, 2010; Norman, 2012; Rickets, 2011). In order for the uptake of knowledge and skills to occur, students need to be immersed in a scenario that is as authentic and real as possible (Campbell & Daley, 2009). Realism is intended to replicate or imitate the “real" clinical environment with the primary goal that students “suspend disbelief” as they encounter a learning experience that closely matches that which may be encountered in real life (Cheng, Duff, Grant, Kisson, & Grant, 2007). “The more suspension of disbelief that occurs, the more immersed the learner can become in simulation” (Gore & Lioce, 2014). In the current state of science in simulation, there are gaps in the knowledge and practice of enhanced fidelity that incorporates diversity, culture and complexity of person and environment. There is a pressing need to advance best practices in the use of simulation. Our presentation will focus on our project that centers on developing faculty expertise and experience in incorporating realism into large group and small group simulation for nursing students, including our perceptions of enhanced realism in facilitating learning goals and outcomes and stimulating students’ critical thinking and judgment.

References:
[1] Cant, R. P., & Cooper, S. J. (2010). Simulation-based learning in nurse education: systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(1), 3-15. DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05240.x
[2] Campbell S. and Daley K. (2009). Simulation Scenarios for Nurse Educators: Making it Real. Springer publishing, New York.
[3] Cheng, A., Duff, J., Grant, E., Kisson, N. and Gran,t V. (2007). Simulation in paediatrics: An educational revolution. Paediatric child health 12 (6) 485-486.
[4] Gore, T. & Lioce, T. (2014). Creating effective simulation environments. In B. Ulrich & B. Mancini (Eds.), Mastering simulation: A handbook for success. (pp 49-86). Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.
[5] Norman, J. (2012). Systematic review of the literature on simulation in education. ABNF Journal, 23 (2), 24-28.
[6] Ricketts, B. (2011). The role of simulation for learning within pre-registration nursing education - a literature review. Nurse Education Today, 31, 650-654. DOI:10.1016/j.nedt.2010.10.029

Keywords:

Nursing education, simulation, fidelity, realism.