Effectiveness of simulation-based learning on student nurses' self-efficacy and performance while learning...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Nursing students often exhibit low confidence and high anxiety during skills learning and assessments.
• The effectiveness of simulation-based learning (SBL) in enhancing nursing students' self-efficacy and performance remains largely unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of SBL on nursing students' self-efficacy and skills performance.
• To provide nurse educators with insights into integrating SBL into nursing skills curricula.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study with 50 students followed by a main study with 98 second-year undergraduate nursing students.
• A pretest-posttest design utilizing four questionnaires and a controlled performance assessment.
• Data collection considered factors like prior experience, teaching quality, and assessment reliability.

Main Results:

• SBL significantly improved students' self-efficacy in skills learning and their performance.
• Potential confounding factors identified include technology anxiety and critical examiner attitudes.
• SBL demonstrated a powerful positive effect on overall student achievement outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based learning is a highly effective method for improving nursing students' confidence and competence in skills acquisition.
• Nursing skills education can greatly benefit from the integration of SBL strategies.
• Addressing student anxiety and standardizing assessment are crucial for maximizing SBL benefits.