Simulation in nursing practice: the impact on patient care

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Simulation is a proven teaching strategy with historical use in high-risk industries.
• While integrated into nursing and medical education, simulation is underutilized for practicing nurses' skill development.
• Existing research highlights simulation's potential but lacks empirical evidence on patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of simulation techniques and applications in nursing.
• To review existing simulation research relevant to practicing nurses.
• To offer recommendations for developing effective nursing simulation programs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of simulation techniques and research.
• Analysis of current simulation uses in the nursing practice environment.
• Identification of exemplars and best practices.

Main Results:

• Simulation is established in education but lags in application for practicing nurses.
• Empirical evidence linking simulation to improved patient outcomes remains scarce.
• Current uses demonstrate simulation's potential for skill enhancement in nursing.

Conclusions:

• Further research is essential to establish the impact of simulation on patient outcomes.
• Developing robust simulation programs is crucial for advancing nursing practice.
• Simulation holds promise for enhancing skills and potentially improving care quality in nursing.