The effect of simulation on clinical performance: a junior nursing student clinical comparison study

Patient simulation has been used to augment the traditional clinical model, but its value is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a theory-driven pediatric simulation curriculum on nursing students' clinical performance.

The convenience sample included 116 junior nursing students enrolled in a pediatric course. Using a staggered timing model, students attended simulation instead of clinical for 2 weeks (25%) of an 8-week semester. The students spent the same amount of time in simulation as in clinical (12 hours per week). Student clinical performance was assessed using a Likert-style tool at 2-week intervals by the clinical faculty. Scores of students who attended simulation in the first 2 weeks were compared with students who had not yet attended simulation. Data were analyzed using repeated measure analysis with the mixed model, and covariate effects were considered. A Compound Symmetry covariance model was used to control the correlation between weeks within each subject. Statistical significance was determined at the 5% level.

Faculty rated students with patient simulation experience higher than those who had not yet attended simulation (mean ± standard error: 1.74 ± 0.75, P = 0.02). On item-level analysis, therapeutic skills were positively impacted by simulation (P = 0.02).

Time in simulation enhanced clinical performance, as simulation students achieved higher scores more quickly than those without simulation and maintained high performance levels. These findings suggest patient simulation is a valuable addition to augment the apprenticeship model.