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Evaluating a pilot session for nursing students with schoolchildren as simulated patients
Helen Reddy1, Laura Holliday1, Louise Clarke1
1University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England.
Nursing Children and Young People
|July 6, 2026
Summary
Primary school children can serve as valuable simulated patients for nursing students. This innovative approach enhances pediatric nursing education by improving skills and confidence before clinical placements.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing Education
- Simulation in Healthcare Training
- Clinical Skills Development
Background:
- Simulation offers valuable practice for nursing students.
- Challenges exist in finding pediatric patients for simulation due to ethical and practical concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a pilot simulation session using primary school children as simulated patients for pediatric nursing students.
- To assess the impact on students' skills, confidence, and readiness for clinical placement.
Main Methods:
- A pilot simulation involved 59 first-year nursing students and 59 primary school children.
- Students practiced physiological assessments and communication skills with children at their school.
- Post-session surveys assessed student perceptions and children provided feedback via a smiley faces scale.
Main Results:
- The majority of nursing students reported enhanced skills and confidence for their upcoming clinical placement.
- Children's feedback on the simulation experience was overwhelmingly positive.
- The study demonstrated the feasibility and positive reception of using children as simulated patients.
Conclusions:
- Using primary school children as simulated patients is an effective method to enrich pediatric nursing education.
- This simulation approach fosters professional identity development and better prepares students for practice.
- The pilot study highlights a successful strategy for overcoming simulation challenges in pediatric nursing.
Keywords:
career pathwayschild healthclinical placementseducationeducational methodspaediatric nursingprofessionalschool nursessimulationstudentsMore Related Videos
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