Evaluation of an integrated simulation courseware in a pediatric nursing practicum

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Traditional pediatric nursing practicum may not fully develop critical thinking and clinical judgment.
• Innovative teaching strategies are needed to enhance nursing student competencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of integrated pediatric nursing simulation courseware on senior nursing students' critical thinking and clinical judgment.
• To explore the relationship between critical thinking improvement and clinical judgment ability.

Main Methods:

• Ninety-five senior nursing students participated in a study using integrated simulation courseware alongside their pediatric nursing practicum.
• The courseware involved simple and comprehensive simulation scenarios utilizing high-fidelity simulators and standardized patients.
• Data on critical thinking and clinical judgment were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Students demonstrated significant improvement in critical thinking scores after utilizing the simulation courseware.
• No significant predictors for critical thinking improvement were identified.
• A significant difference in clinical judgment ability was observed between students with higher and lower critical thinking achievements.

Conclusions:

• Integrated pediatric nursing simulation courseware is an effective learning strategy for enhancing nursing students' critical thinking and clinical judgment.
• Clinical judgment appears to play a role in fostering critical thinking development among nursing students.
• Simulation-based learning offers an innovative approach to supplement clinical practicum experiences.