Learning through fun: board games cafes for undergraduate nursing students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Nursing Education
• Gamification in Healthcare Education

Background:

• Traditional teaching methods in undergraduate nursing programs can be enhanced with innovative pedagogical approaches.
• The integration of gaming strategies in education is gaining traction for its potential to improve learning outcomes.
• Clinical board games offer a unique avenue for experiential learning in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, implement, and evaluate clinical board games cafes within an undergraduate nursing curriculum.
• To assess the impact of board games cafes on student learning, confidence, and social support.
• To explore the feasibility and benefits of a gamified learning environment in nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of clinical board games cafes.
• Thematic analysis of qualitative student feedback.
• Evaluation of student experiences and reported learning benefits.

Main Results:

• Students utilized the cafes for safe practice of clinical scenarios and concept reinforcement.
• Participation fostered social interaction, building essential support networks among nursing students.
• Students reported increased confidence for clinical placements following engagement with the board games cafes.
• The cafe environment was perceived as a positive complement to traditional teaching methods.

Conclusions:

• Clinical board games cafes provide a valuable, engaging, and supportive learning environment for undergraduate nursing students.
• This gamified approach enhances practical skill acquisition, confidence, and social cohesion in nursing education.
• Future developments could include interdisciplinary sessions and tailored games for specialized fields like mental health nursing.