Using Simulation to Teach Transitions of Care for Hospitalized Patients

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Simulation

Background:

• Facilitating safe patient transitions across high-acuity hospital settings is crucial for meeting patient and family care needs.
• Traditional clinical placements often lack opportunities for students to experience diverse hospital settings or apply advanced knowledge.
• The global pandemic has further restricted student clinical experiences, highlighting the need for simulated learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multiscenario, high-fidelity human patient simulation in a senior-level nursing capstone course.
• To assess the impact of simulation on students' understanding and confidence in managing patient transitions of care.
• To determine faculty perceptions of simulation's feasibility and educational value.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a multiscenario simulation using a high-fidelity human patient simulation manikin.
• Simulated diverse high-acuity hospital environments: emergency department, critical care unit, and progressive care unit.
• Integrated simulation into a senior-level capstone nursing course.

Main Results:

• Student evaluations indicated positive learning perceptions, improved clinical skills proficiency, and increased confidence in managing transitions of care.
• Faculty reported the simulation was easy to facilitate and effective as a teaching modality.
• The simulation successfully facilitated the application of complex knowledge and skills related to care bundles and patient transitions.

Conclusions:

• High-fidelity simulation is a valuable tool for enhancing nursing students' competence in patient transitions.
• Simulated learning experiences can effectively bridge the gap between didactic knowledge and clinical practice, especially when traditional placements are limited.
• This approach fosters a deeper understanding of care continuity and improves readiness for real-world clinical challenges.