Nursing students' experiences with high-fidelity simulation.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Grounded Theory

Background:

• Simulation is recognized for its role in developing essential nursing competencies.
• Understanding the student experience in simulation is crucial for optimizing learning outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the lived experience of baccalaureate nursing students in high-fidelity simulation.
• To develop a model explicating the student experience in simulation.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory approach utilizing focus group interviews.
• Involved three cohorts of nursing students with regular simulation exposure (4-12 times/year).

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: Emotional Processing, Anxiety, Making Connections, Fidelity, and Learning.
• The Simulation Learning Model - Student Experience (SLM-SE) was developed.
• Students benefit from increased confidence, experience, reflection-on-action, and peer interaction.

Conclusions:

• High-fidelity simulation is a valuable pedagogical tool for nursing education.
• Optimizing simulation experiences can enhance student learning and skill development.
• Further research should focus on strategies to improve student simulation experiences.