Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Author Spotlight: Evaluating Clinicians' Adoption of Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation Through Simulation Training
Published on: August 9, 2024
A review of virtual-simulation for assessing healthcare students' clinical competency
Elisabeth Coyne1, Pauline Calleja2, Elizabeth Forster1
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Australia; Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia.
Objectives:
Health professional education is transitioning to online platforms to meet students' need for flexibility and international access. However, there is a necessity for authentic presentation of educational material particularly in regard to clinical skills development. There has been major growth in the delivery of virtual simulated-based learning and assessment to provide clinical skill acquisition in an online platform. The aim of this review was to explore the use of virtual simulation to assess clinical competence in health education.
Design:
Integrative review.
Data Sources:
Peer reviewed studies published between 2008 to March 2020 were searched across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL Medline, Scopus, and PsycINFO.
Review Methods:
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses was followed. Twenty-three studies, which met the inclusion criteria, were downloaded, and a quality appraisal and analysis was completed by the research team.
Results:
A thematic analysis identified four themes; pedagogy differences across disciplines, debriefing to enhance learning, preparing healthcare professionals in a safe and cost-effective environment, and managing challenges of virtual simulation. Debriefing with students within the online environment enabled students to share experience and reflect on choices for a deeper learning experience.
Conclusions:
Virtual simulation can prepare students for the clinical environment by providing safe practice within complex clinical situations. Challenges related to managing and debriefing students must be overcome to ensure best student learning outcomes. Virtual simulation is a feasible strategy to assess students' clinical competency and support their learning in both medical and nursing programs, however simulation should be authentic and incorporate reflection.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Nursing Evaluation
01:27Nursing Clinical Information System
A Nursing Clinical Information System (NCIS) is a specialized type of healthcare information system tailored to meet the unique needs of nursing practice. It incorporates the principles of nursing informatics to streamline information management and improve the quality of care delivery.
Critical attributes of NCIS include:
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
01:15Nursing Implementation
The five steps to implementing effective nursing care include reassessing the patient, reviewing and revising the existing nursing care plan, organizing the resources and care delivery, anticipating and preventing complications, and implementing nursing interventions.
01:25Fundamentals of Nursing Process II
01:18Introduction To Health Care Delivery System
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...