The effectiveness of standardized patients as a teaching method for nursing fundamentals

This study compared two teaching methods and examined their effects on student nurses' clinical competence. A nonequivalent control group was used for this quasi-experimental research, and a posttest design was used to compare the effects on clinical competence. A protocol was developed to include critical behaviors and was used as a checklist for evaluation. The results showed that the standardized patient (SP) method was more effective than the traditional method in helping students: * Identify patient needs. * Perform mouth care, back care, position change, nelaton catheterization, and glycerine enema. * Use more effective communication skills. The authors believe use of the SP method should be expanded to more areas of the fundamentals of nursing course, and its effectiveness and efficiency evaluated. Also, the SP method should be used to evaluate the clinical competence of both students and graduate nurses.