Identifying and Addressing Statewide Nursing Simulation Needs

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Faculty Development

Background:

• Simulation is a vital teaching strategy in prelicensure nursing programs.
• Effective implementation of simulation requires faculty expertise in various domains.
• A need for standardized assessment of simulation competency exists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of simulation implementation in a southeastern state.
• To identify specific areas where nursing faculty require additional education in simulation.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted online training program.

Main Methods:

• A statewide assessment utilized the Program Assessment Survey for Simulation.
• Interviews were conducted with simulation coordinators from 22 prelicensure nursing programs.
• Data analysis identified key areas for faculty development.

Main Results:

• Faculty education gaps were identified in simulation theory, design, facilitation, debriefing, interprofessional education, and evaluation.
• A significant need for enhanced faculty training was confirmed across programs.
• The free online simulation fundamentals course demonstrated efficacy in addressing identified needs.

Conclusions:

• Targeted faculty development is crucial for effective healthcare simulation.
• Online educational resources can successfully bridge simulation competency gaps.
• Standardized assessment tools aid in identifying and rectifying simulation training deficiencies.