Enhancing clinical reasoning and student confidence through pediatric simulation.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Pediatric Nursing
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• The pediatric nursing education-to-practice gap is significant.
• Undergraduate programs offer limited pediatric content and clinical experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare student perceptions of learning and confidence between high-fidelity pediatric simulation and acute care pediatric clinical experiences.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of simulation in addressing gaps in pediatric nursing education.

Main Methods:

• A survey using the Simulation Effectiveness Tool-Modified (SET-M) was administered to 124 undergraduate nursing students.
• Students rated their learning and confidence in assessment, clinical decision-making, communication, and safety for both simulation and clinical settings.
• Open-ended questions provided qualitative insights into student experiences.

Main Results:

• Students rated the simulation series higher than clinical experiences across most learning and confidence categories.
• The only exception was patient communication, where clinicals were rated similarly or higher.
• Simulation was perceived to enhance competence and bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical application.

Conclusions:

• High-fidelity simulation is a valuable tool for enhancing pediatric nursing students' confidence and competence.
• Simulation effectively complements traditional clinical experiences and helps bridge the theory-practice gap in pediatric nursing education.
• Further research should explore specific strategies to optimize communication skills development within simulation.