Nursing Students’ Experiences with High-Fidelity Simulation

Abstract

Research has revealed the effectiveness of simulation for facilitating student development of self-efficacy, knowledge, clinical judgment, and proficiency in technical skills. This grounded theory study was conducted to describe the experience of nursing students in high-fidelity simulation and develop a model which explicates the experience of nursing students in simulation. Focus group interviews were conducted with three cohorts of students enrolled in a baccalaureate nursing program who experienced simulation four to twelve times per academic year. Five prominent themes emerged during analysis Emotional Processing; Anxiety; Making Connections; Fidelity; and Learning. The Simulation Learning Model - Student Experience (SLM-SE) was developed to illustrate the student's multi-dimensional experience of learning through high-fidelity simulation. Findings from this study suggest that students are better equipped to learn through increasing confidence and experience, continued reflection-on action and enhanced peer-to-peer interaction. Recommendations for future research include developing strategies to optimize students' experiences for learning in simulation.