Perinatal Bereavement Simulation for Labor and Delivery Nurses Using a Standardized Patient

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Patient Communication

Background:

• Caring for families experiencing fetal demise requires advanced communication and relationship-building skills.
• Simulation offers a controlled environment for healthcare professionals to practice sensitive patient interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess nurses' interaction and relationship-building skills in fetal demise cases.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of simulation in reflecting and improving these skills.
• To provide recommendations for refining simulation-based nursing education.

Main Methods:

• A fetal demise simulation scenario was developed and implemented for labor and delivery nurses.
• Standardized patients (SPs) were used to interact with nurses, providing real-time feedback.
• Nurses and SPs evaluated communication skills using validated questionnaires, followed by participant surveys.

Main Results:

• Nurses with more experience showed better communication skills, though self-assessments sometimes exceeded SP evaluations.
• All participants valued the simulation, appreciated SP feedback, and believed it would enhance their nursing practice.
• The simulation effectively provided a platform for practicing and reflecting on communication in fetal demise situations.

Conclusions:

• Simulation with standardized patients and structured feedback can significantly improve nurses' communication with families experiencing fetal demise and stillbirth.
• This educational approach offers valuable opportunities for clinicians to practice and refine essential communication skills.
• Further simulation offerings are recommended to enhance the quality of care provided in these sensitive situations.