Clinical competencies of undergraduate nursing students for labor care: a quasi-experimental study

Clinical simulation in the management of labor improves undergraduate nursing students' clinical competencies by integrating knowledge, skills, and attitudes. This integration facilitates the internalization of theoretical knowledge, reinforcing self-esteem and confidence in providing care.

To evaluate the effect of clinical simulation on the development of clinical competencies for the management of labor in undergraduate nursing students at a public university in Oaxaca.

A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test study was conducted with 38 undergraduate nursing students, men and women, in the sixth (18) and fourth (20) semesters. The sample size for comparison of means was calculated in G*Power 3. Data were collected using the Clinical Simulation Competency Assessment Tool (ClinSimCAT). Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed using the statistical software SPSS version 26.0.

The Wilcoxon test revealed statistically significant differences between the mean pretest and post-test scores for the Intervention Group (IG) (p < 0.001). In addition, the Student's t-test showed significant differences between the means of the IG and Control Group (CG) in the post-test (t = 7.598, df = 37, p < 0.0001).

Clinical simulation significantly improved students' clinical competencies in the management of labor, which is consistent with the findings of other research studies.

It is crucial that clinical simulation is not limited to technical procedures but also promotes the development of comprehensive nursing skills.