'Ward for the day': A case study of extended immersive ward-based simulation

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Clinical Skills Development

Background:

• Simulation is a key teaching strategy for nursing students.
• Extended immersive simulation mimics ward activities, offering a safe practice environment for the registered nurse role.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate student satisfaction with mentorship, self-reflection, and clinical responses after extended immersive ward-based simulation.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods case study involving 278 final-year Bachelor of Nursing students.
• Simulation rooms were configured as a medical/surgical ward with students in the role of registered nurses and industry partners in senior roles.
• Student satisfaction was assessed using a validated scale and content analysis of open-ended survey responses.

Main Results:

• 87.4% of students responded to the survey, reporting high satisfaction (mean score ≥ 4.5 for scaled items).
• Content analysis revealed key themes: simulation effectiveness, the role of the registered nurse, and learning outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Extended immersive simulation effectively mirrors clinical practice demands.
• Students highly value the safe environment to practice managing ward pressures and delivering patient care.