Electronic Charting During Simulation: A Descriptive Study

Informatics is a core competency for nursing students recognized by several national organizations in healthcare and nursing education. Nurses must be able to use information and technology to communicate and manage knowledge in support of clinical decisions. Many hospitals either limit or deny nursing students' access to the electronic health record during traditional clinical learning. Simulation-based learning experiences are an alternative to traditional clinical experiences. What remains unclear is how nursing programs are incorporating electronic health record platforms within simulation. This study used a descriptive design to survey nursing programs exploring electronic health record use within simulation-based learning experiences in the classroom, skills laboratory, or simulation laboratory settings. Findings of the survey show that 56.2% of participants used an electronic health record in the classroom, skills laboratory, or simulation laboratory for simulation. Electronic health record use is gaining momentum via simulation-based learning experiences and students are not only documenting but also gathering data and appraising patient data for meaningful use to inform patient care decisions and promote clinical readiness.