Innovative Approaches to Mental Health Education: Standardized Patients and Tag Team Simulation.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Mental Healthcare Simulation
• Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Treatment

Background:

• Nursing students often lack confidence and preparedness in managing patients with psychiatric diagnoses and AUD.
• Fear and stigma associated with mental health conditions negatively impact student confidence and patient care.
• Simulation-based learning presents a viable strategy to enhance essential nursing skills in mental healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of standardized patients and tag team simulation in improving nursing students' exposure and confidence in managing mental healthcare and AUD.
• To assess the impact of this simulation method on nursing students' clinical skills and self-perceived competence.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method, pre-post design was employed to evaluate changes in student confidence and skills.
• Students participated in a tag team simulation, where pairs of students consecutively managed patient care scenarios.
• The Mental Health Clinical Confidence Scale and qualitative student reflections were used as outcome measures.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in students' empathy (p=0.021), ability to assist with living skills (p=0.002), and competence in conducting suicide risk assessments (p=0.002).
• Student reflections highlighted the critical role of communication, empathy, and self-reflection in building clinical confidence.

Conclusions:

• Simulation, particularly using standardized patients and tag team approaches, effectively enhances nursing students' confidence and skills in mental healthcare.
• Further research is recommended to explore the continued application and refinement of these simulation methodologies in mental health nursing education.