Evaluating a simulated ward exercise for third year student nurses

Recent changes in nurse education emphasise the importance of developing educational strategies that ensure students are prepared for the work of newly registered nurses. To advance this the third year Adult Branch student nurses on the Higher Educational Diploma in Nursing Programme at the University of Dundee participate in a simulated ward exercise. A surgical ward is created for senior student nurses to work as a team to manage, organise, and deliver patient care. The predominant aim of the exercise is for students to be able to identify their skills' deficits and rectify them. The exercise design, implementation, and student evaluation are described in this paper. Opinions from a sample of students about their participation in the exercise were sought using a structured questionnaire. Analysis of the evaluation data revealed that many were provided with an appropriate forum to consolidate their organisational, managerial and clinical skills. The data also demonstrated that reflection on clinical practice is encouraged when students actively participate in a simulation exercise, which they consider appropriate and beneficial to their learning needs. Moreover, it encourages critical analysis of performance to acknowledge areas for improvement before registration.