Learning to nurse: combining simulation with key theory.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Anatomy and Physiology

Background:

• Undergraduate nursing programs require robust integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
• Effective patient assessment and care provision rely on a strong foundation in anatomy and physiology.
• Traditional nursing education models sometimes struggle to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate anatomy and physiology theory with simulation skills sessions within a single undergraduate nursing module.
• To enhance student learning and improve the application of theoretical knowledge to practical nursing skills.
• To evaluate student perception of a newly integrated curriculum module.

Main Methods:

• A university undergraduate nursing program integrated anatomy and physiology theory with simulation skills sessions into one module.
• Student feedback and evaluations were collected to assess the effectiveness of the integrated module.
• Improvements in simulation skills sessions were observed, focusing on the application of underlying theory.

Main Results:

• Students evaluated the integrated module positively, valuing the connection between theory and simulation.
• Enhanced application of anatomical and physiological theory was noted during simulation skills sessions.
• Students perceived the integrated learning experience as more meaningful and relevant to nursing practice and patient care.

Conclusions:

• Integrating theoretical knowledge (anatomy and physiology) with practical skills (simulation) significantly enhances undergraduate nursing education.
• The combined approach fosters deeper understanding and improves the translation of learning into effective patient care.
• This integrated model represents a valuable pedagogical strategy for nursing programs seeking to improve student competency and practice readiness.