Simulation exposure improves clinical skills for postgraduate critical care nurses

Introduction: Simulation training is a widely accepted tool to improve clinical skills for critical care nurses. Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of simulation training in the arena of postgraduate nursing. To our knowledge, quantitative evidence supporting the benefits of simulation training on critical care students' clinical performance is lacking.

Method: In this study, participants enrolled in postgraduate studies were exposed to an immersive simulation hurdle that mirrored a real-life emergency scenario. Four skill categories addressing clinical performance were used. All participants received theoretical underpinnings related to the clinical hurdle via a conventional teaching method. Participants were then randomly categorized into control and test groups. The test group was involved in simulation activities before the hurdle assessment, whereas the control group attempted the simulation hurdle without prior exposure. Data were collected by an independent assessor using a customized tool.

Results: This study demonstrated a significant improvement in two clinical areas in the test group compared with the control group. This improvement, however, was restricted to “focused patient assessment” and “emergency intervention” skills. There was no significant difference in the skill sets of “primary response” and “consultation with doctor.”