The Impact of a High-Risk Obstetric Simulation Program on Prelicensure Nursing Student Clinical Reasoning

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Clinical reasoning is a core competency for nurses.
• Traditional curricula may not adequately prepare students for high-risk scenarios.
• Simulation offers a safe environment for skill development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of high-risk obstetric simulation on baccalaureate nursing students' clinical reasoning.
• To determine if simulation training leads to measurable improvements in clinical reasoning skills.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 98 baccalaureate nursing students.
• The Nurses Clinical Reasoning Scale was used for pre- and post-simulation assessment.
• Students participated in three high-risk obstetric simulation scenarios.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in clinical reasoning scores was observed post-simulation (p < .0001).
• Mean scores rose from 53.95 (SD = 8.38) pre-simulation to 59.44 (SD = 8.74) post-simulation.

Conclusions:

• Integrating simulation into nursing curricula is effective for enhancing clinical reasoning.
• Simulation-based education is a valuable tool for preparing nursing students for complex clinical practice.