Integrating Simulation Innovatively: Evidence in Teaching in Nursing Education

Abstract 

Clinical simulation has been shown to enhance nursing education. This article is a case summary of one associate degree college’s experience with simulation and describes learning outcomes in eight nursing courses after the inclusion of simulation in the curriculum. It also describes other applications of simulation prompted by faculty and student needs. Our experience showed higher skill scores and greater reported student comfort and confidence in clinical settings after participation in simulation. Simulation, when used as a learning strategy in theory courses, has generally resulted in increases in theory examination scores of 2.5% or greater. A Capstone project in the college’s simulation center in the final nursing semester is described. Medical Education Technologies Incorporated (METI^®) and Gaumard^® simulators and evidence-based simulated clinical experiences were used in our simulation center.

Keywords: associate degree nursing program, curriculum integration, evidence-based, nursing education, simulation learning, outcomes