[Development and effects of a labor nursing education program using a high-fidelity simulator for nursing students]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of an education program using a high-fidelity simulator of labor and delivery on nursing knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical performance among nursing students who had not yet experienced clinical practicum.

The development of a 5-week maternity nursing education programs using high-fidelity simulators included modules containing case-oriented scenarios, knowledge, and skills required for maternity care. A randomized controlled study was conducted to verify the effects of the developed program. Data were collected from October 21 to December 9, 2019. The experimental group (n=36) participated in a 5-week high-fidelity simulation program on care for the woman in labor, whereas the control group (n=36) received standard education as lecture and practice with delivery model. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), the Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and t-test.

For participants who received education using the high-fidelity simulation program, nursing knowledge (t=2.33, p=.011), critical thinking (t=3.73, p<.001), and clinical performance (t=2.53, p=.006) were significantly higher than in the control group.

Even for students with no clinical experience, high-fidelity simulation-based nursing education was effective in improving nursing knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical performance among nursing students. Nurse educators will be able to use this high-fidelity simulator effectively, especially in situations where direct clinical practicum may not be feasible.