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Patient communication simulation laboratory for students in an acute care nurse practitioner program
Margaret Rosenzweig1, Marilyn Hravnak, Kathy Magdic
1University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. mros@pitt.edu
Summary
This study developed a patient communication simulation for nurse practitioner students. The simulation significantly improved their confidence and perceived communication skills in difficult acute care situations.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Clinical Communication Skills
- Healthcare Simulation
Background:
- Effective communication is crucial for advanced practice nurses but not intuitive.
- Advanced communication skills require structured teaching methods similar to psychomotor skills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a patient communication simulation laboratory for an acute care nurse practitioner program.
- To assess student confidence and communication effectiveness pre- and post-simulation (immediate and 4-month follow-up).
Main Methods:
- Developed a simulation lab with nursing and medical faculty.
- Included didactic sessions and a 2-hour simulation focusing on breaking bad news, empathy, motivational interviewing, and handling angry patients.
- Measured self-reported confidence and skills using Likert scales and open-ended questions.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in confidence for initiating difficult conversations immediately and 4 months post-simulation (P<.001).
- Significant improvements in self-rated overall communication ability immediately and 4 months post-simulation (P<.001).
- Students highly rated the simulation experience as beneficial.
Conclusions:
- The simulation laboratory effectively enhanced student confidence and perceived communication skills.
- The methods and content improved preparedness for challenging acute care communication scenarios.
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