Evaluation of an integrated simulation courseware in a pediatric nursing practicum

This study examined the effect of integrated pediatric nursing simulation courseware on students' critical thinking and clinical judgment. Ninety-five senior nursing students participated in this study. Every student followed the established courseware schedule, as well as the regular pediatric nursing practicum. The courseware schedule included two simple simulation scenarios and one comprehensive scenario on the first day of the first, second, and third weeks of the practicum. Students' critical thinking scores showed significant improvement after the use of simulation courseware using high-fidelity simulators and standardized patients. No significant predictors were found for improvement in critical thinking, but bivariate transformation of upper and lower groups in critical thinking achievement revealed a significant difference in the clinical judgment ability between the two groups. Simulation courseware supplementation is an innovative learning strategy for improving nursing students' critical thinking and clinical judgment during clinical practicum. Clinical judgment may play a role in facilitating nursing student improvement in critical thinking ability.