Innovative use of a flipped-classroom approach to teach fundamental nursing skills

Prelicensure nursing students are required to master fundamental nursing skills. The COVID-19 pandemic created challenges in maintaining excellence while teaching skill acquisition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate skill validation scores and student satisfaction and self-confidence using a flipped classroom approach and a low-fidelity simulation model to innovatively teach skill acquisition. Researchers used a quasi-experimental method to compare skill validation scores of a control group and intervention group using independent samples t-test. Researchers also evaluated whether prelicensure nursing students had satisfaction and self-confidence with this teaching strategy. Findings suggested that skills validations scores were no different using a flipped-classroom approach than in-person instruction. Prelicensure nursing students were satisfied and self-confident following the implementation of this teaching strategy. This teaching strategy has the potential to decrease in-person clinical practice time, provide alternative opportunities for clinical make-up and remediation, and decrease cost.