Using virtual simulation to teach evidence-based practice in nursing curricula: A rapid review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Professions Education
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Virtual simulation is a key teaching strategy for undergraduate nursing students, gaining prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Limited research exists on virtual simulation's effectiveness in teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) elements to nursing students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify virtual simulation types relevant to nursing education.
• To examine the application of virtual simulation in teaching evidence-based practice elements.

Main Methods:

• A rapid literature review was conducted, analyzing 37 studies published between 2017 and May 2021.
• A narrative analysis summarized findings on nursing students' educational outcomes.

Main Results:

• Virtual simulation, including virtual reality and educational games, engages students in realistic role-plays.
• Most studies focused on teaching evidence-based clinical nursing topics, with 16 studies showing significant knowledge gains.
• Objective measures indicated improvements in student knowledge, performance, documentation, and communication.

Conclusions:

• Virtual simulation is an innovative and feasible teaching method for undergraduate nursing programs.
• While virtual simulation is endorsed, its specific effectiveness in teaching EBP elements needs further validation.
• Nursing curricula should integrate training on searching and critically appraising evidence for clinical practice.