Branching Path Simulation for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Students to Promote Critical Thinking: A...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Active Learning Strategies

Background:

• Branching Path Simulation (BPS) is an active learning pedagogy utilizing gaming principles in a low-stakes environment.
• No prior studies have investigated the application of BPS within advanced practice nursing education.
• This research focuses on evaluating BPS integration in a graduate-level pediatric nurse practitioner course.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess pediatric nurse practitioner students' perceptions of Branching Path Simulation (BPS) integration.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of BPS as an active learning tool in graduate nursing education.
• To explore student feedback on BPS design, usability, self-confidence, and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design with a post-test only approach was employed.
• The study included a convenience sample of 22 pediatric nurse practitioner students.
• Data was collected from students enrolled in a university in the Pacific Northwest over two years.

Main Results:

• Student responses to BPS were overwhelmingly positive.
• High ratings were observed for BPS design (M = 4.8; SD ± 0.4) and satisfaction (M = 4.8; SD ± 0.4).
• Positive feedback was also noted for usability (M = 4.3; SD ± 1.0) and self-confidence (M = 4.2; SD ± 0.8).

Conclusions:

• Branching Path Simulation (BPS) was favorably received by nursing students.
• BPS offers immediate feedback, aiding students in identifying clinical management strengths and weaknesses.
• The BPS pedagogy is customizable, cost-effective, and beneficial for graduate nursing courses.