Simulation and Skill Training Facilities in Nursing Institutes at Uttarakhand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Medical Training

Background:

• Simulation and skill development facilities are crucial for nursing student training and clinical readiness.
• Effective preparation of nursing students requires robust simulation and skill development infrastructure.
• The study addresses the essential role of simulation in enhancing nursing professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of simulation and skill training facilities in nursing institutes.
• To evaluate the utility and utilization of these facilities in Uttarakhand.
• To identify gaps in simulation and skill development resources for nursing education.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 16 nursing institutes in Uttarakhand, India.
• Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a validated self-structured questionnaire from November to December 2019.
• Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Only 44% of institutes possessed a medical-surgical nursing skill lab; all had basic nursing foundation and midwifery labs.
• The average number of mannequins was 3.90 (7.10) and high-fidelity simulators was 2.47 (7.1).
• Private institutes showed significantly higher laboratory usage duration (35.82 vs. 27.40 hours; p=0.025) compared to government institutes, associated with institute age (p=0.04).

Conclusions:

• The study identified inadequate simulation and skills training facilities and their underutilization in nursing institutes.
• There is a significant need to address the unavailability and limited use of essential nursing skill development facilities.
• Further investigation is required to pinpoint the key issues hindering the provision and effective use of simulation resources.