Using a Complex Patient Management Scenario to Help Bridge the Education-Practice Gap.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Simulation
• Healthcare Complexity

Background:

• Transitioning nursing students to practice is increasingly difficult due to complex healthcare environments.
• Senior-level Bachelor of Science in Nursing students require preparation for managing critically ill patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a clinical simulation in preparing nursing students for critical care scenarios.
• To identify gaps in nursing students' understanding of complex patient management.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of a high-fidelity clinical simulation.
• Focus on critical patient deterioration requiring intensive care unit transfer.
• Emphasis on priority setting, delegation, communication, and teamwork skills.

Main Results:

• Simulation effectively engaged students in managing a deteriorating critically ill patient.
• Identified specific gaps in students' comprehension of complex patient situations.
• Highlighted the need for enhanced simulation strategies.

Conclusions:

• Clinical simulations are crucial for bridging the gap between nursing education and practice.
• Further development of complex simulations is needed to equip nursing students with essential skills.
• Simulations enhance critical thinking and decision-making in high-pressure healthcare settings.