A Simulated Perioperative Clinical Day for Prelicensure Nursing Students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Perioperative clinical learning experiences are crucial for prelicensure nursing education.
• Limited availability of traditional perioperative clinical settings hinders student learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an unfolding perioperative simulation day as an alternative to traditional clinical learning.
• To assess the impact of simulation on nursing students' achievement of learning outcomes, collaboration, and self-confidence.

Main Methods:

• Developed a simulation-based experience encompassing preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative nursing care.
• Implemented the simulation as a substitute for traditional clinical learning in a prelicensure nursing program.

Main Results:

• The perioperative simulation positively affected students' ability to achieve learning outcomes.
• Simulation enhanced students' collaboration skills and self-confidence.
• Simulation reinforced foundational clinical skills including patient safety, infection control, mobility, teamwork, and communication.

Conclusions:

• A simulated perioperative clinical day is an engaging learning experience for nursing students.
• Simulation effectively reinforces critical clinical skills necessary for perioperative nursing.
• This approach addresses the challenge of inconsistent access to traditional perioperative clinical experiences.