Measuring Debilitating and Facilitating Anxiety Within Nursing Simulation.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Simulation-Based Learning
• Student Psychology

Background:

• Simulation anxiety can either motivate or immobilize students.
• Understanding simulation anxiety is crucial for designing effective learning scenarios.
• No existing instruments differentiate between debilitating and facilitating anxiety in nursing simulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test an instrument differentiating debilitating and facilitating anxiety in nursing simulations.
• To examine the impact of baseline anxiety on pre-simulation anxiety.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative repeated measures design with 90 pre-licensure junior nursing students.
• Achievement Anxiety Test (AAT) administered to measure anxiety levels.
• Examined baseline and pre-simulation anxiety.

Main Results:

• The revised AAT showed preliminary validity and reliability for measuring anxiety types in nursing simulations.
• Debilitating anxiety, not facilitating anxiety, significantly predicted pre-simulation state anxiety.
• Baseline anxiety significantly increased debilitating anxiety in simulated settings.

Conclusions:

• Addressing students' baseline anxiety is crucial for a successful transition into practice.
• The revised AAT is a potentially valid tool for assessing anxiety in nursing simulations.
• Further research may explore interventions for managing baseline anxiety in nursing students.