Academic nursing administrators' perceptions of replacing clinical hours with simulation.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• The healthcare landscape necessitates evolving nursing education methods.
• Simulation-based education (SBE) is increasingly adopted in nursing programs.
• A decline in SBE usage post-pandemic prompted investigation into its role in replacing clinical hours.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurse administrators' perspectives on using SBE to replace clinical hours in pre-licensure nursing programs.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to sustained SBE adoption in Maryland nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive quality improvement study utilizing Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Theory.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted with four academic nurse administrators.
• Thematic analysis of qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Nurse administrators' valuation of SBE as a safe learning environment is crucial for infrastructure development.
• Barriers include faculty buy-in, faculty workload, and insufficient human resources for high-quality simulation delivery.
• These barriers can impede the sustained adoption of clinical simulation.

Conclusions:

• Continuous faculty training and dedicated resources are essential for effective SBE.
• Recommendations include investing in faculty development, establishing simulation champion roles, and fostering collaborations.
• Nurse administrators play a critical role in overcoming challenges and maximizing SBE's potential in nursing education.