Utilizing simulation to prepare nursing students to coordinate care through transitions.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Patient Care Transitions

Background:

• Effective care coordination and patient transitions are vital for improving health outcomes.
• Prelicensure nursing education must equip students with practical skills for entry into practice.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new challenges and considerations for healthcare transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of a simulation focused on care coordination for nursing students.
• To evaluate the simulation's effectiveness in developing students' clinical reasoning and judgment skills.
• To discuss adaptations and changes in simulation design and delivery since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• An associate degree nursing program developed and implemented a simulation exercise.
• The simulation focused on coordinating care for a patient transitioning across multiple healthcare settings.
• Students participated in the simulation in roles of observer and direct care nurse.

Main Results:

• The simulation provided a realistic environment for students to apply care coordination principles.
• Students engaged in critical clinical reasoning and judgment through active participation.
• The experience highlighted the importance of interprofessional collaboration in patient transitions.

Conclusions:

• Simulation is an effective pedagogical tool for teaching care coordination and transition concepts to nursing students.
• Nursing programs should incorporate realistic simulations to prepare graduates for practice.
• Adapting simulation strategies is necessary to address evolving healthcare landscapes, including post-pandemic changes.