Innovations in virtual education for clinical and simulation learning.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Online Learning

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic necessitated remote clinical experiences for nursing students.
• Pre-packaged online solutions were initially adopted but lacked engagement.
• Students expressed dissatisfaction with asynchronous web-based learning alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative web-based simulation strategy developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified in-person simulation for remote nursing education.
• To address student dissatisfaction with traditional online learning methods.

Main Methods:

• A partnership between clinical faculty, simulation faculty, and the Theatre Department was formed.
• An in-person simulation activity for two students was adapted into a web-based format.
• The web-based simulation included clinical faculty, eight nursing students, and one simulated patient.

Main Results:

• The active learning strategy successfully met the predefined course objectives.
• The modified simulation required minimal additional resources for implementation.
• Student evaluations of the web-based simulation experience were positive.

Conclusions:

• Innovative web-based simulations can effectively replace traditional clinical experiences in nursing education.
• Collaborative approaches involving different departments can enhance remote learning.
• Student engagement and satisfaction can be improved with well-designed online learning activities.